The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) was delighted to unveil the highly anticipated Merrimack Valley Data Portal to communities and stakeholders on Wednesday, October 7th. Over 30 planners and municipal officials joined MVPC’s Community and Economic Development Planner, Nate Robertson for a walkthrough of the application.

The Merrimack Valley Data Portal boasts a plethora of data and functionality that will aid communities in the completion of various project types. Communities now have centralized access to data which previously took hours to source and vet out, streamlining projects like grant applications, site selections, and development initiatives.

Partially funded by the U.S Economic Development Administration, the data portal is an important piece of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Merrimack Valley to promote the equitable stewardship and development of the region. It works to meet the need for robust demographic and economic data that shapes how municipalities, businesses, non-profits and the public direct resources and make decisions. In addition to EDA funding, the Merrimack Valley Data Portal was made possible by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s District Local Technical Assistance funding and guidance from the CEDS Committee, member communities, MassEcon, MassInc, and GIS Planning.

Check out the new Data Portal here. Play around with it and let MVPC know what interesting things you learn!