ESI was engaged by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia to conduct a regional data audit and develop potential research products to assist the planning and implementation of an advanced “Research Hub” function within the Chamber.
The Chamber and its regional economic development partners identified a shared research function as a priority tactic to advance the region’s business attraction capacity and effectiveness. While many regional organizations conduct research targeted to their objectives or collect and publish data sets, no organization currently aggregates and commissions research towards shared economic development objectives, in contrast to competitive regions where Chambers or quasi-government organizations take on this function.
In Phase 1 of the study, ESI conducted an audit of research reports and data sets already produced and published by organizations in the Philadelphia region and identified best practices from peer regions in three steps:
- Taxonomy of research and data: ESI identified relevant economic development and related organizations, agencies, and entities producing data, research, and other “outputs” in the Philadelphia region. The audit also categorized these outputs based on topic area (e.g., workforce development, fiscal policy, real estate development), geography, and frequency of data/research release.
- Searchable/sortable database: ESI documented this research in a separate Excel file. The database is designed to be a resource for stakeholders to identify data gaps, track regional trends, and develop future data products that enhance and complement, rather than duplicate, existing regional research efforts.
- Gap Analysis: Informed by outputs (economic data, research, and products) produced in peer regions, ESI identified potential research gaps in the Philadelphia region.
In Task 2, ESI generated information on potential products for the Research Hub in order the provide a “menu” of options for implementation. Building from the gap analysis in Phase 1, ESI identified and summarized the key components of each data product, including data needs, potential topics and formats, prospective stakeholders and use cases. ESI also analyzed strategic and logistical considerations for each study type, such as time and cost considerations in producing and maintaining information and the potential value to stakeholders.
ESI continues in 2025 to support the Chamber in the launch and implementation of the Research Hub function.
