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Baltimore Economy Dashboard pulls 43 data points into one view for city planners
The new Baltimore Development Corporation tool draws from nine sources to track jobs, housing and spending across six categories.
How we reported this
Baltimore now offers a single online location that combines 43 separate economic measures into maps and charts updated every quarter.
The launch arrives as city officials and private investors seek quicker ways to compare neighborhoods on housing costs, job growth and consumer activity without hunting through multiple government websites.
The Baltimore Development Corporation released the dashboard on June 11 after working with Bloomberg Associates on the project. The nonprofit economic development agency already used similar tools in Phoenix and Tampa to guide decisions on business openings and public services.
Dashboard covers jobs, real estate and startups
Indicators fall into six areas: jobs, workforce, real estate, small businesses, startups and consumer spending. Some figures come from free public sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Others arrive from paid providers including Lightcast. Neighborhood Nexus of Atlanta handled data selection and design while Chicago-based Assemblage built the full application.
Maps show spending patterns by neighborhood and locations where households spend the largest share of income on rent. Charts allow side-by-side comparisons of venture capital totals or unemployment rates against the prior quarter or the same period one year earlier. The platform works on mobile devices and requires no manual updates because new data loads automatically.
Tool aimed at investors and entrepreneurs
BDC President Colin Tarbert said the site should help economic planners, real estate investors and entrepreneurs make faster choices. Early responses in the first month have been positive, with users noting the information is both accessible and straightforward to read.
Residents and business owners can visit the dashboard at cityeconomy.org/baltimore to review current figures on local employment and housing before deciding where to open a shop, apply for work or purchase property.