Getting to Smarter Solutions, Faster
How Data is Being Leveraged to Improve Communities and Economic Competitiveness
On September 22, 2021, Start Co. hosted a virtual convening with experts from across the nation to discuss ways in which data is being used to strengthen quality of life, access to opportunity, economic growth, and government decision-making. Guest speakers provided examples of how their organizations are using data to support public and private sector leaders’ efforts to address economic, social, and civic challenges, and they also shared insights on lessons learned and best practices that can be leveraged in Memphis.
Experts:
-
Mariela Alfonzo, Ph.D – CEO of State of Place
-
Ross DeVol – President and CEO of Heartland Forward
-
Mike Beevor – Expert in Residence at DigiCity
The conversation was moderated by Start Co.’s President, Andre Fowlkes, with support from Rachel Reilly of Aces & Archers.
Fowlkes began the discussion by highlighting Start Co.’s work with startups, partners, and clients that are launching technologies and innovative civic solutions to help strengthen communities. He also shared information on the Digital City initiative in Memphis, TN which is dedicated to creating a data visualization environment that can be used to better understand trends and existing conditions, as well as inform public- and private-sector decision-makers.
Dr. Mariela Alfonzo, CEO of State of Place, then shared information about the value-add her company provides to civic leaders tasked with identifying public investment priorities. State of Place is helping local governments quantify the ties between urban design and quality of life, with the aim of using this data and evidence to create more livable, equitable and sustainable communities by fostering more effective, cost efficient, and inclusive city-making solutions.
City makers have been making design, development, and policy decisions without access to the right data, specifically data that helps them understand which investments to the built environment would have the most impact on quality of life outcomes and key performance indicators they care about. – Mariela Alfonzo, Ph.D
Dr. Alfonzo cited her current work with the City of Philadelphia. State of Place was engaged to identify how divestment patterns in the city’s built environment have led to inequitable disparities in quality of life among vulnerable communities, quantify the negative impact of this behavior, and recommend remediation strategies that would maximize the return on investment.
Heartland Forward’s President and CEO Ross DeVol then discussed the work his organization is doing to improve economic performance in 20 states located in America’s core. Heartland Forward is focused on identifying fact-based solutions that can be applied to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, build human capital, strengthen regional competitiveness and improve resident health and wellbeing. These solutions are designed to unleash the potential of Heartland economies through job creation, knowledge-based inclusive growth, and improved health outcomes.
“If you do not have the right built environment, it results in poor determinants of health, which leads to higher obesity, much higher healthcare costs, and lower formation of human capital.” – Ross DeVol
DeVol shared information on recent research that was conducted to investigate the role that young firms (i.e. new businesses) play in driving job and economic growth across communities. Findings from the organization’s report can be used by local leaders advocating for incentives, funding and place-making that foster new business formation.
DigiCity Expert in Residence, Mike Beevor, shared insights on how Smart City infrastructure can be used for community data collection, and how that data can be used to drive entrepreneurship. He also underscored the advantages of placing technology solutions and data sets in the hands of underserved residents who face systemic challenges everyday, as they are the experts who can help design effective solutions.
“Tech drives innovation and disruption, but using social enterprises and [underserved] communities to do that is a huge opportunity that we are all missing.” – Mike Beevor
DigiCity provides the resources and tools local leaders need to build smart, more connected communities. Smart City technology is being leveraged in cities to effectively and ethically collect data that public- and private-sector leaders can use to design and implement new solutions to address social, civic, and economic challenges.