Community Transformation Data Analysis Guide | Main Street America

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“There isn’t just one economic development strategy that will work; instead, there are always many possibilities.”

Market Analysis for Community Transformation walks practitioners through ​‘Market Analysis Lite,’ a process that allows Main Street leaders to get a handle on the market analysis process without an overly burdensome time or financial investment. Market Analysis Lite uses data, but leans heavily on common sense, local knowledge of the existing uses and functions of the commercial district, along with critical interpretation. You can gather and interpret some data yourself, without engaging a professional analyst. And you can gather and analyze information in ​“chunks,” getting more detailed when needed (such as when a particular development is proposed). The guide breaks down each component of the process, including: Trade Area, Population Characteristics, Sales Gap, Business Inventory, Competitive Context, Perceptions and Attitudes, Using Market Data to Define a Transformation Strategy.

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