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Economic Development Director Elizabeth Triggs explained that the new data tool was intended to help tell the story of what the West Texas city is like and to help increase awareness of its economic base, which spans multiple sectors.
“I think being able to show all those things is important, especially when you have companies looking at us, considering a move or considering an expansion here,” Triggs said.
The tool was created in partnership with eIMPACT, a company that helps public- and private-sector partners maximize the impact of data.
Previously, the city would pull open source data as needed, but tracking trends and making predictions was difficult. The data visualization makes this information easier to navigate, helping businesses and individuals interested in moving to El Paso, as well as new city employees.
The city is pushing advanced manufacturing and has a lot of city-owned land to offer large employers. With this tool, the city can be more proactive about attracting businesses and marketing its economic potential.
While the product went live in January 2023, it will be regularly updated on a monthly basis moving forward and will not require staff time, explained eIMPACT CEO and co-founder Erik Larson.
Data is pulled from a number of sources, Larson said, including publicly available data — like census data — and third-party data sources and aggregators that the company works with.
eIMPACT customizes the dashboard for every government entity with which it partners, through an iterative collaboration process, which allowed the city of El Paso to adjust the initial draft to better serve its needs.
For example, rather than summarizing the data solely by ZIP code, it was consolidated into localized geographic areas that are already familiar to residents to make it more digestible, explained Triggs.
The city has been monitoring feedback through the survey that was attached to the visualization, and Triggs noted that the response has been positive: “People are excited to have that data at their fingertips.”
Looking forward, Triggs noted that a lot of the tool’s value has yet to be unlocked. However, it will inform decision-making for the city including the city’s growth strategy, from transportation investments, to job creation, to business expansion projects, and beyond.
