EDA Seeks Comments on Federal Statistical Data

As a result of a recent study on the federal role in economic development, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is concerned that the current federal statistical system is not meeting the needs of economic development practitioners. EDA has commissioned a web-based survey to assess the usefulness of the data.

The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), in a report commissioned by EDA, noted that state and local development agencies rely heavily on data generated by federal statistical agencies, and by state employment agencies following federal methodologies.

The report suggests that a long-standing lack of coordination among federal agencies, recent cutbacks in funding for federal statistical programs, and the low priority placed on regional data has resulted in a data collection system that cannot supply usable, reliable data of a region's economic activity.

EDA, with cooperation from the Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, is looking to assess how well the requirements of economic development practitioners are being met by the current system and to identify means for improving the availability of socioeconomic data needed for regional economic development.

One component of the assessment process is a survey of economic development practitioners to determine:

• The extent to which the data needs of regional development practitioners are currently being met by the Federal data system, in terms of elements such as availability, frequency, level of geographic and industrial detail, and timing; and,
• The extent to which practitioners are aware of the data sources currently available, and the tools and methods for effectively analyzing them.

The survey is being conducted via the World Wide Web through the end of March at www.hevanet.com/lad/survey.htm.