Community Development: Resource Guide

Center for Rural Policy and Development (MN)

The Center for Rural Policy and Development (CRPD) is a non-profit policy research organization dedicated to benefiting Minnesota by providing policy makers with an unbiased evaluation of issues from a rural perspective. Available on CRPD's Web site is an online Minnesota Atlas as well as publications and reports focusing on rural economic development, education, demography and technology in Minnesota. The Web site also features a weekly radio segment on rural development topics of interest.

Council for Community and Economic Research (ACCRA)

The Council for Community and Economic Research was created to promote excellence in community and economic research by working to improve data availability, enhance data quality and foster learning about regional economic analytic methods. Since 1968, the organization has produced the Cost of Living Index to provide a useful measure of living cost differences among urban areas.

Economic Research Service (USDA)

The Economic Research Service (ERS) is a resource of information on economic and policy issues involving food, farming, natural resources and rural development. The ERS Web site includes state fact sheets of farm and agricultural characteristics, a Demographic Data and Graphic Builder (online interactive tables, charts, and maps) and statistical data, reports and publications pertaining to the rural economy, rural development, rural industry, rural labor and education and natural amenities.

Federation of Tax Administrators

The Federation of Tax Administrators is a national organization of state tax officials. The FTA Web site includes comparative information on state tax agencies, rates, policies and administration, as well as links to individual state agencies.

Iowa State University Office of Social and Economic Trends Analysis

Social and Economic Trends Analysis (SETA) provides data and analysis for economic development, community betterment and public policy needs of the state of Iowa. In addition to detailed demographic statistics by city, county and state level for Iowa and 11 other Midwestern states, SETA maintains a library of research and publications pertaining to Iowa agriculture, employment and income, population, public services and retail trade.

Minnesota Office of Geographic and Demographic Analysis

The Office of Geographic and Demographic Analysis is comprised of the Environmental Quality Board, Land Management Information Center (LMIC), Office of the State Demographer and Office of the State Archaeologist. It offers a diverse variety of services and information to state and local government and to the public.

Minnesota State Demographic Center

The Minnesota State Demographic Center analyzes and distributes data from state, U.S. Census Bureau and other sources. It administers the Minnesota Data Center, part of a national network of State Data Centers and Business and Industry Data Centers affiliated with the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Minnesota Data Center affiliates across the state provide access to census, economic and demographic data, as well as consultation and referrals.

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education)

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Web site provides access to a variety of publications, statistical reports and tools, including State Education Data Profiles, School District Profiles and a School, Colleges and Libraries search tool.

Northeast-Midwest Institute

The Northeast-Midwest Institute is a research organization dedicated to economic vitality, environmental quality and regional equity for 18 Northeast and Midwest states. Economic data on the Institute's Web site includes state profiles, demographics, economic growth indicators, employment, income, housing, energy and manufacturing information, national economic indicators and federal spending statistics.

State Data Center of Iowa

The State Data Center of Iowa is a resource for population, housing, business and government statistics about Iowa, including data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Iowa state agencies and other state and federal sources.

The Tax Foundation

The Tax Foundation offers a number of publications, reports and state comparisons on taxation and tax issues, including the State Business Tax Climate Index, State Individual Income Tax Rates and State and Local Tax Burdens by State.

U.S. Department of Commerce STAT-USA

STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a single point of access to business, trade, and economic information from across the federal government.

Wisconsin State Data Center

The Wisconsin State Data Center provides census data and demographic information including population and housing estimates and projections; social, economic and housing characteristics; and supporting maps, charts and graphics.