Abstract

Economic Development Analysis Using Business Analyst Online and Community Tapestry
Track: State and Local Government
Authors: J M Pogodzinski

This paper examines the use of Business Analyst Online and Community Tapestry to analyze the economic development implications of rebuilding the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. The new plant will employ a technology for wastewater treatment which will free up land formerly used as a buffer.

The two central economic development implications of refurbishing the plant are new land uses of the former buffer lands and job creation associated with rebuilding the plant. Both the land use and job creation aspects have strong geographic components.

Business Analyst Online can be used to examine alternative land uses for the former buffer lands in terms of site suitability analysis, determine the proximity of proposed activities to current businesses to identify synergies, and determine the proximity of proposed activities to sensitive receptors. Community Tapestry can be used to determine the job creation implications of rebuilding the plant.