Columbus, Ohio Chamber Launches New GIS Technology

    COLUMBUS, OH, September 10, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Columbus Chamber has recently relaunched an upgraded Geographic Information System (GIS) on its economic development site, ColumbusRegion.com, an online tool for both current member businesses and businesses that are looking to relocate to the Columbus region.

These enhanced tools will aid in the Chamber's efforts to attract new capital investment, while optimizing site selection opportunities, making Columbus a more competitive option for prospective businesses. The Columbus area is continually growing, it possesses essential economic development assets and ColumbusRegion.com provides a one-stop portal for businesses to access resources, information, tools and people to make their site selection decision.

"Columbus Region InSite provides immediate access to critical business and development information that will facilitate growth in the Columbus Region," said Matt McCollister, vice president, economic development, Columbus Chamber. "We know that more than 90 percent of initial site selection screening is done through the Internet so it is critical that the Columbus Region offer access to this information. The new GIS tool provides even more data sets, enhanced reporting options and aerial views of the property."

GIS allows users to quickly and easily find the ideal location for their business within the eight-county Columbus region, as well as access overlays of demographic data by county. If a member business has grown and needs a larger space or a relocating business needs to be close to a highway or an airport, they can use GIS to identify a specific building that will suit their needs.

"This tool goes far beyond a simple database of available sites and buildings," McCollister. "It provides the information and analysis businesses require to identify geographic advantages and business opportunities in our region. Buildings and sites are available throughout the nation. What makes the Columbus Region attractive to business is highly related to our location-specific advantages, which can be accessed online through Columbus Region InSite."

The ColumbusRegion.com site also includes a Free Demographic Report Builder, where users can find up-to-date information about demographic information in the Columbus, Ohio region. With more than 350 data points, users can include information about the area's population, workforce, crime rates, real estate, employment, taxes, cost of living and doing business, and other factors contributing to Columbus' economic development.

ColumbusRegion.com also includes a Columbus Historical Economic Data Center, the Chamber's cluster strategy for economic growth, information about leading economic indicators, information about the growing logistics industry, as well as information about the Chamber's three key workforce initiatives: LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com, ColumbusInternships.com, and the Young Professionals program.

For more information, visit www.columbusregion.com.

About the Columbus Chamber
The Columbus Chamber leads and supports economic growth and development in the Greater Columbus community. It supports a membership of 2,500 businesses.

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