Abstract

Improving GIS Techniques in Economic Gardening
Track: State and Local Government
Authors: Clay Smithers

Despite being a 20 year-old concept, Economic Gardening is seeing major growth throughout the nation as regions and states focus on developing existing, local businesses. GIS is one of the major tenants of a successful economic gardening program and requires the use of numerous datasets, analysis methods, and delivery methods to help an audience that frequently lacks GIS savvy. During the past three years, the GrowFL program has worked with over 300 companies in multiple states in an effort to help companies, who in-turn increase employment. During this session, we will discuss improving methods for sharing GIS with companies through the acquisition of public and private data, common analysis techniques, web-based delivery methods and increasing the use of GIS by individual business owners.