Agencies Launch Regional Indicators Website
January 20, 2020 (Albany, NY) The Capital Region Chamber in partnership with the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC), The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) are pleased to announce the availability of a new regional indicators website capitalregionindicators.org. This new user-friendly resource features dynamic data visualizations which allows citizens to easily explore data and trends impacting communities in the capital region. The website is intended to spur discussion about, and facilitate a better understand of, changes in our communities’ well-being over time and serve as a key resource for data needed by non-profits, businesses and government agencies.
“The Capital Region Chamber is proud to partner to create the Capital Region Indicators website, said Mark Eagan, president and CEO. This project started as an idea in the summer of 2018 within our Nonprofit Business Advisory Group and to see where we are today is a testament to vision and partnerships that lead to the creation of an easy-to-navigate central data source which can better inform and guide the work of non-profits, for-profits and governmental agencies. The more organizations that align their work to address chronic and emerging issues that drive key indicators, the greater our collective capacity to enhance the economic and social well-being for all that call the Capital Region home.”
The website is a joint initiative among the partners and the University at Albany’s Advanced Visualization and Informatics Lab (AVAIL) which custom built the platform. The site will be maintained by CDRPC.
“This project is just one example of the University at Albany’s commitment to using our resources to give back to the community,” said Matt Grattan, director of community and economic development, UAlbany. “We are pleased our AVAIL team was engaged in this project to develop a tool that will drive conversation, inspire charitable efforts, and inform the general public.”
“In this day and age, data is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. This new platform puts data at the fingertips of people and will help them easily understand and digest the information without having to dig through websites, spreadsheets or use complicated software to make sense of it all,” said Mark Castiglione, Executive Director of CDPRC. “It will also amplify CDPRC’s data services and technical assistance capabilities and help local agencies access timely information for grant applications or municipal planning processes.”
The website includes profiles for the 4-county and 8 county Capital Region Area, each individual county, and each city, town and village within those counties. Each profile includes roughly 50 demographic and other indicators which are categorized under Economy, Transportation, Housing, Education, Health and Social Welfare. Profiles pages feature data visualizations and ability to compare data overtime and across geographies. In addition, the platform features a mapping interface that allows users to explore data geographically down to the census tract and block group levels. Using the best available information, the website serves as a common source for data and interactive visualizations that will inform community members on critical topics related to the economic and social health, as well as progress of our region.
“The Community Foundation has been very pleased to help lead and support the development of the community indicators project that will inform community members, policy makers and organizations of the critical needs in the Greater Capital Region. I’m inspired by the collaborative efforts among partners thus far, and look forward to working with leaders to drive positive change in the days to come.” said John Eberle, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region.
“CDTC is pleased to partner with CDRPC, the Capital Region Chamber, and UAlbany’s AVAIL Lab on the Regional Indicators Dashboard,” said Michael Franchini, Executive Director of the Capital District Transportation Committee. “We expect the Dashboard to be a useful tool for our members, non-profits, businesses, and community groups.”
About the Partners:
The Capital Region Chamber represents 2,900 businesses and organizations from Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties and beyond – that employ more than 160,000 area residents. The Capital Region Chamber provides leadership and resources to grow member businesses and the regional economy.
Since 1968, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region has worked to improve the quality of life in the region by promoting and facilitating effective philanthropy. Our success is directly related to our generous donors who invest through the Community Foundation in our area’s most effective nonprofit organizations.
The Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) provides objective analysis of data, trends, helping to identify opportunities and challenges. Established and is funded, in part, by Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga and Schenectady Counties, CDRPC provides technical assistance and facilitates partnerships to address regional problems.
The Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) is a public transportation planning agency and the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy and Saratoga Springs metropolitan areas and the four county region. CDTC provides a forum for long range transportation planning, offers communities planning and technical assistance and makes decisions through a public process about major transportation capital investments. Our region’s transportation future is shaped by decisions made by CDTC.
Albany Visualization and Informatics Labs (AVAIL) is the premier data science engineering group within the State University of New York at Albany. AVAIL is on a mission to empower a new generation of students to assimilate computer science knowledge and subject-matter expertise in the fields of data science and analytics. In doing so, AVAIL is formulating innovative solutions for private business and government.
