Transportation Planning

State Data Center / Business and Industry Data Center Affiliate (SDC/BIDC)

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Project Overview

Through its function as a SDC/BIDC affiliate, the FRCOG serves the region by providing statistical information upon request to residents, organizations and businesses in Franklin County. The FRCOG receives statistical reports from the U.S. Census Bureau and the UMass Donahue Institute (formerly the Massachusetts Institute of Social and Economic Research) through the State Data Center Program, and collects additional information from other state and federal agencies. Staff complete data requests free of charge, unless the request requires significant data collection and analysis. The data requested is most often used to develop business plans, conduct research, write grant applications, produce planning documents, and guide policy developments.

Current Activities

Staff continue to collect annually updated data, such as population estimates,  unemployment rates, county income statistics, municipal tax rates, and county business pattern information.  Staff are encouraging local towns to participate in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program.   This Program allows local governments to appoint an individual to review and comment on the accuracy of the Bureau’s address database that will be used for the 2010 Census. An accurate count of all housing units and group quarters (like nursing homes and dormitories) is very important because the information gathered from the Census survey is used for determining grant eligibility, political representative redistricting, and planning for future municipal needs and services.

Future Plans

Staff will continue collect and analyze available data that is pertinent to the region.  Special attention will be made to collecting building permit data due to its significant impact on assessing population projections and transportation trends.

Links

Last Updated: 12/18/2007

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