“PolicyMap is an invaluable tool for identifying underserved and low-income communities, and ensuring that the selection of projects that go into an application are grounded in data.”

–Jeanne Marra, Strategic Communications/Community Development Consultant
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Challenge

The New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) Program incentivizes community development and economic growth through the use of tax credits that attract private investment to distressed communities. Through the NMTC Program, the CDFI Fund allocates tax credit authority to Community Development Entities (CDEs) through a competitive application process. MarrComm Partners helps CDEs navigate the NMTC landscape, and each application requires data-supported insights to ensure projects align with the needs of the most distressed areas.

But for Jeanne, gathering demographic, health, economic, and federal guideline data from various sources can be an incredibly time-consuming and arduous task, especially when seeking those across local and regional levels. Considering the unpredictable timeline of the application from the CDFI Fund, it is crucial for MarrComm to have ready and ongoing access to robust, quickly accessible data.

Solution

PolicyMap equips MarrComm with the essential data needed to effectively assess community needs and build compelling, data-backed NMTC applications.

Before using PolicyMap, Jeanne’s team expended critical time tediously collecting demographic and economic data. Now, they can quickly access over 75,000 indicators from more than 170 reliable sources. This includes PolicyMap’s curated collections, industry-specific data conveniently organized in one place, helping users view a particular topic of interest within the library. The Social Determinants of Health Curated Collection, for example, provides a comprehensive view of how residents live, work, and age. With access to the most recent and historical time periods, Jeanne and her team can effectively demonstrate both past performance and future potential in underserved areas.

With a significant reduction in the time spent on data collection, MarrComm can focus on analysis and strategy. Plus, PolicyMap’s extensive data library allows Jeanne to regularly discover valuable data she hadn’t anticipated. “Those ‘AHA moments’ when you identify unanticipated data create opportunities for new insights and learnings,” Jeanne notes. “These insights drive smarter, data-informed strategies and can tell even broader community impact stories than we originally anticipated.”

In addition to data, PolicyMap’s state-of-the-art mapping platform is an incredible tool for visualizing markets, communities, and neighborhoods. The platform’s Multi-Layer Maps enable users to overlay multiple datasets. MarrComm uses this feature to pinpoint areas that align with federal program objectives.

By integrating PolicyMap into their workflow, MarrComm not only makes their NMTC application process more efficient, but also uncovers valuable insights that support their clients' investment and efforts. With PolicyMap, MarrComm is empowered to create impactful strategies that drive economic equity in the communities they serve.