Using GIS Technology to Map Out Expansion Opportunities
One of the latest tech innovators to emerge in commercial real estate is not the developer of a new app or platform, nor is it one of the major services firms. Instead, it’s a nonprofit, public-private organization, the Washington D.C. Economic Partnership (WDCEP), which has employed geographic information system (GIS) technology to call attention to expansion opportunities.
“What started out as a snapshot for specific retail opportunities has expanded into several industry sectors as a strategically maintained resource for business attraction and retention activities throughout the city,” said Chad Shuskey, SVP of research and real estate at WDCEP. Shuskey and research analyst Veronica Miniello prepare the partnership’s “Map of the Month” series.
This monthly map series highlights expansion opportunities, and offers resources for business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs. Each map focuses on a specific subject matter such as real estate development, retail & restaurants and technology while showcasing DC’s neighborhoods with adaptations such as: “Grocery Store Expansion in DC, “70+ Coworking Spaces in DC,” “ Neighborhood Development” and “Tech Companies in DC.” Another recent edition focused on neighborhood development in the city’s Adams Morgan section.
“Anytime we can incorporate technology to promote Washington, DC is something we aspire to do,” said Keith Sellars, president and CEO of WDCEP. “The Map of the Month series is a culmination of hard work and methodically leveraging the power of data and analytics as a resource to support economic development drivers in the city.”
As a measure of WDCEP’s achievement in developing the map series, the partnership was presented with GIS developer Esri’s Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the annual Esri User Conference in San Diego earlier this month. WDCEP was among five state and local winners across the U.S. in the category of community planning/economic development. Other categories represented worldwide among Esri’s honorees this year included law enforcement, military, emergency management and forestry.
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