Economic Development Tool data refresh — June 2026

Added

  • Updated data All data source vintages reviewed against the CORI Data Release Calendar (June 8, 2026):
    • Broadband coverage and access metrics updated to FCC National Broadband Map Version 8 (December 2025 data)
    • Population metrics updated to Census PEP 2025 covering 2010-2025
    • Wage and salary employment and compensation QCEW covering 2010-2025
    • Business formation metrics updated to BFS 2025 covering 2010-2025
    • Building permits metric updated to BFS 2025 covering 2010-2025 Private capital access metrics Form D, 5-year window shifted to 2021-2025

Schema Migration

Pipeline fully migrated from proj_erc to proj_econ_dev_tool PostgreSQL schema.

Technical Notes

Updates in params.yml: - acs.latest_year: [2023] → [2024]; paired comparison year shifts from 2018 to 2019 (n_year_change_basis = 5). Previously postponed in the December 2025 release. - gen_bea table years extended to include 2024 (CAINC1 population, CAGDP1 real GDP; full range now 2010–2024). Note: load_bea.R is non-functional (requires BEA_API_KEY and doctR package); 2024 row copied from proj_erc snapshot. - fcc.nbm_release: nbm_block-J25 → nbm_block-D25 (FCC NBM Version 8, December 2025) - pep.latest_year: [2024] → [2025]; county totals released March 26, 2026; sourced via cori.data.pep S3 package - qcew.latest_year: [2024] → [2025]; Q4 2025 + Preliminary Annual 2025 released June 2, 2026; direct BLS download via qcew_utils.R - bps.latest_year: [2024] → [2025]; vintage 2025 captured June 3, 2026; sourced via cori.data.bps S3 package - formd.base_year: [2020] → [2021]; formd.latest_year: [2024] → [2025]; 5-year window now covers 2021–2025 - bfs.latest_year: [2024] → [2025]; held pending schema review in prior release; BFS 2022 NAICS compatibility with existing pipeline confirmed - bds.latest_year: held at [2023]; 2024 BDS vintage not expected until approximately September 2026 - assemble_data.R Google Sheets dependencies replaced with local CSV reads: data/codebook.csv, data/metrics.csv, data/research_language.csv, data/key_stats.csv - PatentsView S3 path returns 403 Forbidden; patents_tidy copied from proj_erc snapshot pending investigation of the PatentsView data access policy change - Pitchbook source table venture_capital.pitchbook_company_geocoded_addresses absent from database; pitchbook_tidy copied from proj_erc snapshot - load_bea.R requires BEA_API_KEY environment variable (not present in current environment); bea_tidy copied from proj_erc snapshot

ERC Tool V3 Updates - January 2025

Added

  • Updated data:
    • ACS 2024; 5-year comparison window shifts from 2018–2023 to 2019–2024
    • BEA GDP and income series extended through 2024
    • Broadband coverage and access metrics updated to FCC National Broadband Map (June 2025 data)

ERC Tool V3 Updates - December 2025

Added

  • Updated data
    • Source population stats from Population Estimates Program (formerly sourced from BEA)
    • Source employment stats from QCEW (formerly source from BEA)
    • Connecticut now includes planning regions and historic counties
    • All other data updated to latest releases (except for ACS/FormD; postponed)

ERC Tool V3 Updates - June 2025

Added

  • New Quality of Life category including:

    • Quality of Life percentile over time metric
    • Housing-related indicators

  • New Entrepreneurship metric: Number of startups in each county or region (sourced from PitchBook)

  • Introduction section enhancements:

    • Nonmetro status for each county
    • Population data for each county

  • Update to broadband metrics: FCC NBM data release update

Technical notes

  • Average compensation per worker and Employment metrics have been updated due to the discontinuation of regional data tables from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (result of federal budget cuts)

    • These metrics are now sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
    • Using Average annual pay and Average annual employment data

  • Refined the language, metrics, and ETL processes associated with the Form D dataset following insights from the report Rural America’s Struggle to Access Private Capital

  • Reorganized the grouping and order of metrics within the tool based on feedback from Research Director Dr. Amanda Weinstein

  • Revised the names of urbanization level categories for improved clarity and consistency

  • Broadband service data updated with the December 2024 release of the FCC National Broadband Map

    • FCC NBM data now includes satellite service coverage, affecting BSL calculations and rural broadband metrics
      • Integration of satellite service availability has significant impact on total Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs)
    • Updated data reflects biannual NBM release cycle with improved coverage metrics