Welcome to POLICOM
Economic Analysis Everyone Understands
"Together, we can plan a dynamic future for your community."
POLICOM analyzes local and state economies, determines if they are growing or declining, identifies what is causing this to happen, and offers ideas and solutions to improve the situation.
From its research and educational programs, community and government leaders discover what is driving their economy and what the community can do to enhance the "economic quality of life" for the people living and working in the area.
Economic Development Educational Tools for Community Leaders
POLICOM informs and educates economic developers and community leaders on the nature of local economies and economic development programs. The following are documents which you are welcome to download (PDF) and use as you desire. "Right click" to open the document in new tab or window.
Annually POLICOM ranks all Metropolitan and Micropolitan areas for “economic strength,” which is the long-term tendency for an area to consistently grow in both size and quality.
To determine the rankings, twenty-three economic issues are measured for growth and consistency over a twenty-year period.
The economic strength rankings are created so POLICOM can study the characteristics of strong and weak economies.
POLICOM has created economic strength rankings for all Metropolitan Statistical Areas since 1996 and all Micropolitan Statistical Areas since they were created in 2002.
Rankings published in February of 2024 are the most recent available. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), claiming “budget restraints,” failed to publish the necessary data in November of 2024, which is needed to create the 2025 rankings. This data set had been published by the BEA annually since 1994. Should the BEA release the data in the future, 2025 rankings will be created.
To determine the rankings, twenty-three economic issues are measured for growth and consistency over a twenty-year period.
The economic strength rankings are created so POLICOM can study the characteristics of strong and weak economies.
POLICOM has created economic strength rankings for all Metropolitan Statistical Areas since 1996 and all Micropolitan Statistical Areas since they were created in 2002.
Rankings published in February of 2024 are the most recent available. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), claiming “budget restraints,” failed to publish the necessary data in November of 2024, which is needed to create the 2025 rankings. This data set had been published by the BEA annually since 1994. Should the BEA release the data in the future, 2025 rankings will be created.
A “local economy” is a geographic area in which a preponderance of the residents both live and work, earn and spend. Metropolitan and Micropolitan areas are defined local economies.
The Office of Management and Budget, White House (OMB), is charged with the responsibility of measuring the economic relationship among adjoining counties, principally commuting patterns, to determine the geographic definition for the Metropolitan and Micropolitan areas.
OMB BULLETIN NO. 23-01 (download PDF), published July 21, 2023, includes the most recent county-based definitions for 387 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and 538 Micropolitan Statistical Areas.
POLICOM has created state maps for its internal use, which identify the counties included in each statistical area. The Federal government does not provide such maps. Go to State Maps for PDF's of individual state.
The Office of Management and Budget, White House (OMB), is charged with the responsibility of measuring the economic relationship among adjoining counties, principally commuting patterns, to determine the geographic definition for the Metropolitan and Micropolitan areas.
OMB BULLETIN NO. 23-01 (download PDF), published July 21, 2023, includes the most recent county-based definitions for 387 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and 538 Micropolitan Statistical Areas.
POLICOM has created state maps for its internal use, which identify the counties included in each statistical area. The Federal government does not provide such maps. Go to State Maps for PDF's of individual state.
In order to educate local government officials and community leaders on how a local economy functions and the importance of a local economic development program, POLICOM created The Flow of Money – How a Local Economy Grows and Expands.
Over the years The Flow of Money has been downloaded by thousands and is used by universities and state and local economic development organizations to explain to community leaders and local government officials the importance of having a professional, comprehensive, well-financed economic development program.
Over the years The Flow of Money has been downloaded by thousands and is used by universities and state and local economic development organizations to explain to community leaders and local government officials the importance of having a professional, comprehensive, well-financed economic development program.
- One of the most important yet controversial tools used by local and state governments is granting financial incentives to businesses to locate to or expand within a community or state.
- POLICOM’S research paper How to Create a Community Economic Development Incentive Program explores the following issues:
- Why offer incentives?
- Economic impact.
- Types of incentives.
- Objections to incentives.
- Issues which influence the economic impact of a project.
- Structure of a local economic development incentives program.