Census Bureau Economic Programs (including the Economic Census) provide detailed statistics that are important for industries and communities. Trade associations, chambers of commerce, and businesses rely on this information for economic development, business decisions, and strategic planning.

Read below for real-life examples and discover useful tools to help your businesses and organizations make sound decisions.

A successful high-end component manufacturer for mountain bikes considered opening his own bike shop to sell his manufactured components along with mountain bikes and other components.  He used data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to identify potential customers (young professionals with moderate to high median household income) that he could then market his new business.  He also used Census business data to identify locations where Sporting Goods stores (NAICS 451110, which includes bike shops) are located.  These data not only identified possible competitors to his business but also potential businesses to collaborate with by opening a leased department within a larger store.

(See CBB )

Using the business data from Census, he was also able to compare the payroll per employee, sales per employee, and other stats for the nine areas he considered which gave him a better understanding of his industry and what he should expect to pay his employees.  These data were included in his business plan and in the application that he submitted to his local small business lender for a start-up capital loan.

A utility truck manufacturer was doing a periodic review of its network of dealerships and repair facilities across the U.S. They were happy to see that most of their facilities reported high customer satisfaction scores from the surveys they did with their customers, but were disappointed to see that some were not doing as well.  Especially concerning was that the complaints were not about the quality of the service provided but the time it was taking to get an appointment and get the vehicle repaired. Customers also complained about the distance they had to travel (at great expense) for service. Their planning staff considered relocating some of the locations to better service the existing customers, but senior staff were concerned about the costs.

(See CBB )

Using Census business data, headquarters staff were able to identify (on a map) the numbers of businesses (plumbing and electrical contractors) that typically used their vehicles throughout their covered service areas.  They overlaid a map of their service facilities on top; doing so quickly revealed areas with many potential customers but no dealerships or repair facilities within 50 miles.  They also noted that the service area of some of their under-performing facilities overlapped with other areas.  Using Census data, the planning staff were able to convince senior managers of the needed changes.  They decided that some facilities should be relocated and other new facilities be opened. In their next periodic review, the customer satisfaction scores significantly improved

A grant writer in Ohio prepared a request for funding to address “food deserts” (areas with no access to high-quality food) in her county and surrounding areas.  She had anecdotal evidence of this issue in her area but needed

(See CBB )

Using Census Bureau economic data, she identified zip codes in her area that had no grocery stores.  She then used data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to refine these identified areas to just those with a vulnerable local population; areas with low median household income, high disability status, high population over 65, and limited access to transportation.  She included these identified areas (and the demographic and business data for them) in her grant proposal and was awarded the grant to help fund entrepreneurs to open grocery stores in these areas.

Emergency management officials in South Florida tasked with evaluating how vulnerable their areas were to major weather events, initially focused on residents of their areas, and used the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) to understand these populations better. They then expanded their research to include businesses, especially in industries that they found critical (hospitals and other health care providers, building material dealers, etc.).

(See LEHD )

Using Census business data, they were able to identify the workforce size and jobs concentration for those key businesses likely affected during a major weather event.  In addition, they established protocols on how they could help ensure that these businesses remained open during and after these events, and needed resources.

• Census Business Builder (CBB)
• Economic Census Data Tools