When making decisions that affect local residents and employers, getting accurate and timely information is key. LCRA's Community and Economic Development department can help you get the information you need, when you need it.
Data Research and Analysis
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| CED provides a wide variety of planning services ranging from organizational strategic plans to comprehensive planning for small cities. |
You need reliable, up-to-date facts when researching your local economy, analyzing your workforce or pursuing opportunities such as a potential business. We can provide you with raw data or help you turn data into useful information including these applications and more:
- current demographic data and population projections
- occupational data including jobs, unemployment, wages, staffing patterns, and more
- data on industries and their workforce and educational needs
- industry trends
- consumer spending patterns
- retail profiles
- traffic patterns
Economic Development Planning
Economic development plans help communities create sustainable development, attract and retain quality jobs, expand tax base, and preserve quality of life. Plans also can highlight the link between community development efforts and economic development goals.
Economic Impact Analysis
Get the information you need to make the best decisions for your community. Our technical experts use computer models to analyze public data, census data and data specific to your community scenarios and offer feedback to help make decisions. Opportunities for analysis are widespread and include the following:
- prospective business relocation, expansion or closure
- local festivals and events
- current or potential economic development incentives
- cost-benefit analysis
Comprehensive Planning
A comprehensive plan helps cities develop a long-term shared vision for the future and a blueprint for achieving that vision. It is a city’s first step toward long-term community development.
We can guide your community through the process of gathering public input and developing a comprehensive plan. Your plan will be tailored to your community and will include a step-by-step implementation guide with specific action items, timelines and responsibilities. Elected officials, city staff and other community leaders use the plan in preparing for the future.
Comprehensive plans address a variety of local issues and opportunities such as:
- land use
- infrastructure
- zoning
- capital improvements
- ordinances
- economic development
- housing
- downtown revitalization, and
- historic preservation
Downtown Revitalization
Every downtown has a unique character and special needs. Our team will help you see your downtown opportunities in a new light. Whether you have challenges with parking, vacancies, building façades, pedestrian traffic or merchant collaboration, we can help you develop a viable plan to lead your downtown in the right direction.
Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping
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| Planning can help communities chart a course for the future that is based on a shared vision. |
This planning and analysis tool pairs geographic features such as roads and utilities with demographic and economic data, giving your community a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining business. This tool also can assist a community in identifying current land use patterns and creating an ideal future land use map. Communities can use these maps to focus growth in the most suitable areas to minimize potential conflicts and enhance quality of life.
Strategic Planning
A strategic plan can help you identify and achieve specific goals. Many types of entities, from chambers of commerce to entire counties and regions use strategic planning to define a vision for the future, identify current and potential issues, develop specific achievable goals, and prepare a plan of action.
We can help you develop long-term strategic and annual work plans and other services customized to your specific needs. The end product is a “living” document to be used regularly as your organization or community progresses towards its goals.
