Connecticut River EDA Adjustment Project

Summary
Links

Project Summary

In the summer of 2000, OGIA, in collaboration with the Center for Economic Development (CED), was contracted by the North Country Council of Bethlehem, NH to identify the economic development potential and associated environmental concerns in 96 communities along this American Heritage River.

The CED/OGIA team is one of two regional partners cooperating on this project. The team's research will focus on collecting project data for Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont as well as facilitating the sharing of project information between other regional partners.

The project is divided into two phases: 1) base mapping and identification of target communities; and 2) regional analysis of areas suitable for economic development given certain environmental constraints.

Phase one was completed in September of 2000. The results include a compilation and analysis of spatial data that:

• identifed approximately 40 communities that meet Economic Development Administration (EDA) socioeconomic criteria including per capita income, unemployment rate, population decline;
• mapped potential environmental constraints to economic development in all communities along the river; and
• mapped current land use, transportation infrastructure and opens space;
• compiled a library of available spatial data relevant to the Connecticut River watershed.

Data continuous for the entire watershed was first compiled by USF&W Service in the early 1990s. OGIA is updating and expanding upon this effort using data from state GIS centers.

Phase two began in October 2000. This phase includes development of a land suitability analysis model which will utilize the economic and environmental data collected in Phase 1. Additional data will be collected where necessary for the project completion. The model is a composite index that will score and rank towns based on development suitability in the context of environmental considerations. Special emphasis will be paid to those communities meeting EDA criteria.

OGIA intends to share its data with other regional partners and river stakeholders. Plans are under consideration to create a data warehouse on all relevant Connecticut River information and spatial data through OGIA's parent organization, The Environmental Institute (TEI) at UMASS, Amherst.

Links

North Country Council, Inc.

Connecticut River Watershed Council

Connecticut River Coordinator's Office, USF&WS

Connecticut River Joint Commissions

Connecticut River American Heritage River web site

American Heritage Rivers

For more information on this project or to contract with OGIA for similar work email Rick Taupier, OGIA Director.

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updated 11/17/00