FORT MITCHELL, KY (Sept. 4, 2024) – Since BE NKY Growth Partnership (BE NKY) launched the Northern Kentucky Atlas in late 2022, the data visualization tool is being continuously improved, creating a better user experience for individuals and organizations utilizing the Atlas to enhance their research, news articles, grant applications, and presentations.
The Atlas, a data dashboard for Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties, features hundreds of topics that can be explored in the form of maps, charts, tables, and more, and was developed by Metopio, an innovative data and analytics company.
“The ultimate goal is for this tool to be used to improve our region, providing an analytical resource to align community stakeholders on issues that need to be addressed, and help them obtain the data they need to do this work,” said BE NKY Research Director David McAleese. “We are consistently working to update the Atlas to increase accessibility and ease-of-use for the Northern Kentucky community.”
“Metopio partners with forward-thinking organizations like BE NKY to improve the platform to make data easily accessible so anyone can make more informed decisions,” noted Angie Grover, Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer for Metopio. “It’s exciting to see the investments the community data dashboard is driving.”
CaptAIn AI Chatbot, Economic Indicator Dashboard
A new AI chatbot, CaptAIn, helps users navigate the website, putting information right at their fingertips. Users can search for data and create charts and maps by asking CaptAIn questions, such as “what are the top ZIP codes by income?” Atlas users can also improve the chatbot by providing feedback on whether the answer was helpful or informative. There is a multi-star icon in the lower right corner that launches CaptAIn.
For further assistance using the Atlas, click on “How to Use” or “Help & Tools” in the main navigation bar.
An economic indicator dashboard, which can be found under “local reports” in the main navigation column, is another new feature. The idea behind the dashboard is to provide a quick snapshot of the state of the Northern Kentucky economy.
Metrics on the dashboard include GDP, population growth, exports, employment and wage growth, labor force participation rate, unemployment rate, new business formation, and cost of living.
The dashboard is part of a larger section of local reporting which also includes information about local school district student performance assessments, and statistics relating to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). These updates reflect BE NKY’s ongoing desire to make pertinent information readily available to our community stakeholders in one easy-to-use online dashboard.
NKY Atlas Testimonials
To provide insight into how stakeholders are leveraging the Atlas, the site also features testimonials from various companies and organizations in the region. Organizations that have used the Atlas for recent projects or research, include Brighton Center, The Catalytic Fund, and the Kenton County Public Library, among others.
The Catalytic Fund used the Atlas to pull data for applications for three Duke Energy Urban Revitalization Grants in 2023. The real estate development fund was awarded all three grants for a total of $60,000 to spend on predevelopment expenses for commercial reuse of vacant urban buildings.
“The Northern Kentucky Atlas is our go-to data resource,” said Travis Gysegem, director of research and underwriting for The Catalytic Fund. “The Atlas is an effective tool for compiling essential demographic and economic data to strengthen our grant applications to funders, ultimately bringing more growth capital for catalytic urban revitalization projects to our River Cities.”
Testimonials can be found under “About” in the main navigation column.
NKY Atlas In the News
Local news organization LINK nky is a key user of the data, often relying on the Atlas to gather information for news articles. The website has been used to source information such as percentage of occupied households without access to a vehicle, percentage of workers that cross state lines for their job, and median home values in the three-county region.
“The Northern Kentucky Atlas has become an invaluable part of our reporting at LINK nky,” said President/CEO Lacy Starling. “Any time we need data about the Northern Kentucky metro for a story, we know that we can use the Atlas. It has truly made our data-centered reporting better.”
News articles can also be found under “About” in the main navigation column.
NKY Works
NKY Works (formerly GROW NKY) is a collective impact initiative that provides one-stop support to businesses, enabling them to cultivate a workforce that is enthusiastic, prepared, and capable of filling and retaining quality jobs across all sectors of Northern Kentucky’s economy. BE NKY Growth Partnership Workforce Development Manager Kim Spreder works closely with this organization.
The Atlas features a page dedicated to NKY Works and the organization’s five key focus areas: early childhood education, career readiness, work-ready adults, regional talent attraction & promotion, and employer best practices. As NKY Works continues its mission, content on this page will continue to be built out.
To help manage the Northern Kentucky Atlas, BE NKY recently hired Ashby Drummond for the new role of research analyst. Check out the Atlas and its new features at atlas.northernkentuckyusa.com.
About BE NKY Growth Partnership
BE NKY Growth Partnership, the economic development company for Northern Kentucky, provides businesses with the expertise they need to build opportunity in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. We attract new business and elevate what’s already here to create innovative, forward-thinking, and attractive environments for companies and community success. We serve Northern Kentucky so that our community thrives through the creation of good jobs and a growing and diverse economy. We believe in Opportunity and Prosperity for All Northern Kentuckians. Visit www.BE-NKY.com for more information.
