When you get asked day after day for data on such mundane sounding things as population trends or the unemployment rate you might be tempted to just share the numbers and go about your day. If you did that, however, you would never get to share the stories behind the data, and that runs counter to the way that Todd Gustafson approaches business.
Gustafson is Chief Executive Officer of Kinexus in Benton Harbor, and he and his team work hard to deliver more than just simple numbers to those who ask for assistance. In fact, Kinexus has released its first edition of what they are calling the Economic Vitality Report today. The report provides information on key economic trends and performances within the tri-county area of Berrien, Cass & Van Buren Counties.
Gustafson says, "We are often asked for unemployment numbers or population trends in the tri-county area. However, there’s a bigger picture behind each data point. This report seeks to provide clarity around key indicators and tells the story of our economy in a broader context.”
The Economic Vitality Report is the result of Kinexus researching and studying trends in the economy over several years. Multiple stakeholders, including academia, business, civic leaders, and the philanthropic community, have worked with Kinexus throughout the years to obtain and gather data. The analysis provided in this report seeks to highlight those most often sought after trends.
The Economic Vitality Report will be updated annually to provide stakeholders and the entire community with information for strategic planning purposes. These metrics are intended to track progress in meeting important economic vitality outcomes. The latest Tri-County statistics will be used when possible – however, the Niles-Benton Harbor Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) will be referenced when county level data is unavailable. Due to the time lag in data availability, this report highlights the most recent data.
Ryan Simpson is Director of the Community Development Division at Kinexus. He says, "We wanted to do an economic vitality study to see how Main Street is doing.” He adds, “While this report is a high level overview, our next research projects will focus on taking a deeper dive to address questions regarding education, crime levels, and transportation. We want to study and communicate the challenges that our communities face every day and we know that these three areas are a big part of the puzzle.”
Individuals or companies interested in obtaining more information about the Economic Vitality Report or additional data requests are encouraged to contact Kinexus at (269) 927-1064.
Kinexus is a nonprofit organization that invests millions in funding each year in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties through integrated business, workforce, and community development. They are dedicated to creating solutions for business, workforce, and community challenges that promote economic vitality in the southwest Michigan region. For more information, click this link: www.Kinexus.org or follow the team on Twitter @KinexusGroup and Facebook at facebook.com/KinexusGroup.
