Abstract
Using GIS to Identify Houston Area Business Clusters Track: Modeling Author(s): Richard DeBose Businesses sometimes gain a special spillover benefit when they cluster into groups that supply complementary goods and services. In addition to primary employment centers (like traditional 'downtowns' or major medical centers), urban regions are filled with less obvious industry-specific business clusters. These secondary clusters often offer as much market potential as their better known counterparts and are prime targets for economic development initiatives. During summer 2005, Houston Community College's GIS department initiated a project to identify the spatial distribution of industry clusters in the Houston region. Spatial statistics and local economic data were used to develop a GIS-based approach to identifying the current locations of existing industry clusters and to anticipate the locations of emergent ones. This presentation provides an overview of the process and a description of how HCCS will incorporate results into economic development and workforce training initiatives. Richard DeBose Houston Community College, SW GIS 10141Cash Rd Stafford , TX 77477 US Phone: 713 718 7776 E-mail: richard.debose@hccs.edu |
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