APPLIED ECONOMICS

Our professional staff brings a broad range of experience and understanding to the application of economic and policy analysis to a breadth of policy issues of concern to both private sector clients and government agencies on all levels. Using the latest in research and analysis methods, we help you better understand your situation and the issues you face.

 

The list of recently completed assignments in this broad services category includes: providing technical support for a state’s general obligation debt issuance, reporting the economic impact of walking and bicycling in Vermont; reporting the economic impact of bicycling in Arizona, conducting macroeconomic analysis of a gold mine in Mexico, the evaluation of capital improvement options for a state airport, short-term and long-term economic-financial forecasting, an analysis of a regional economy’s key industry clusters, presenting the net economic benefits of a natural gas pipeline project before a state public utilities regulatory board, and the development and construction of a biomass heating plant.

Our team of professional economists has completed more than 250 economic-job and fiscal impact analyses for a broad array of client questions. Our impact analyses have been used to assess the efficacy of granting economic development incentives for projects, to obtain development review approvals, measure the effectiveness of public sector programs on all levels of government, support the assessment of municipal impact fees, and measure the economic-fiscal impact of industrial sectors and electric generating facilities in a state or regional economy. Our work includes completed assignments throughout the United States as well as work in Canada and Mexico.

 

Typical assignments include:

 

1. Economic and fiscal impact analysis for projects applying for economic development incentives.

2. Economic and fiscal impact assessment of development projects for state or municipal review.

3. Measuring economic impacts, such as job creation, for government programs/activities.

4. Measuring economic and fiscal impacts of industry sectors in a state or regional economy.

EPR has a proven track record of accurate and effective impact analysis of specific development projects on a state, region, or municipality. Our impact analyses are often used by our clients to complete required regulatory reviews in development review proceedings. Our assignments include completed projects for multinational corporations, small businesses, developers, and state, county, and municipal governments. We have completed work on projects across a diverse range of project types, including major destination resorts, manufacturing campuses, individual industrial plants, commercial-retail expansions, and assessments of residential and various forms of mixed use development projects.

Our professionals are skilled in all aspects of developing effective strategic economic and community development plans. Through our more than 25 years of experience, we have developed a proven approach to help our clients focus their efforts to a manageable list of priorities and action steps that offer the highest potential for successful outcomes. We employ a combination of objective research and analysis (including hierarchical cluster analysis), targeted surveying, and citizen involvement to help identify opportunities and build the level of public support needed for follow-through and effective implementation. We target our efforts toward building our clients’ own in-house capacity to use the tools and information we develop to support their ongoing community and economic development initiatives well after we have completed our assignment.

EPR economists have completed over a dozen housing assessment studies. We are particularly skilled at helping clients develop fact-based, innovative solutions to their housing needs. Our work covers the full spectrum of assignments including assessments of statewide housing needs to housing supply and demand analyses, analysis of regional and local supply and demand for affordable housing, and narrowly focused housing assessment studies for individual municipalities with special economic performance issues.

 

Typical assignments can include:

 

1. Regional or local housing situation analysis.

2. Supply and demand assessments and forecasts.

3. Economic and demographic assessments and forecasts.

4. Analysis and forecast of current and prospective affordable housing needs by household income category as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).