Data Spotlight

Step 1: Gather Your Data

For this tutorial, we’ll create a profile for Porter County, Indiana. Here’s how to find the key indicators using StatsAmerica tools:

Population & Demographics: Navigate to USA Counties in Profile and search for “Porter County, Indiana.” Look for population estimates and growth trends on the Overview and Demographic pages. Find data on educational attainment on the Education page, sourced from American Community Survey (ACS) data showing, for example, the percentage of adults with bachelor’s degrees.

Assets & Economic Infrastructure: Look for employment and labor force data on various pages, including the Overview, Jobs & Wages (BLS) and Labor Force pages, including unemployment rates and labor force size. Use employment numbers for the region and the U.S. to calculate location quotients for key industries.

Cost Competitiveness: You can find average and median wages and incomes on the Overview page. You can also use STATS Indiana’s cost of living calculator to compare the cost of living between two cities.

Economic Performance: Look for employment and establishment growth on the Jobs and Wages (BLS) page

For all indicators, it’s helpful to provide a rank for context. Counties in Profile gives you the option to rank a county within its state and within the nation.

Alternative Data Sources within StatsAmerica:

• The Regionizer - Build custom regional profiles and compare multiple areas
• Innovation Intelligence - Access innovation and entrepreneurship indicators
• Measuring Distress - Find economic distress indicators and thresholds

Step 2: Create Compelling Data Visualizations

Rather than presenting raw numbers, transform your data into visual stories:

Population growth trend: Create a line chart showing Porter County’s population growth compared to the state average. Use a tool like Excel or Google Sheets with your StatsAmerica data.

Education benchmark: Design a horizontal bar chart comparing Porter County’s bachelor’s degree attainment to state and national averages.

Industry cluster visualization: Create a bubble chart showing industry employment size (bubble size) versus location quotient (competitive strength).

Step 3: Design Layout Principles

The “Z-Pattern” Layout: Arrange your content to follow the natural reading pattern:

• Top-left: Region name and key headline statistic
• Top-right: Primary visualization (e.g., population or employment trend)
• Middle: Supporting data points in easy-to-scan format (additional smaller data visualizations can be included here)
• Bottom: Call-to-action or contact information

Visual Hierarchy Tips:

• Use bold, large text for your main headline number.
• Choose 3-4 colors maximum that align with your organization’s brand.
• Ensure plenty of white space to avoid clutter.
• Use consistent fonts throughout (e.g., one for headlines, one foPr body text).

Step 4: Craft Your Data Story

Example Headline Story for Porter County: “Porter County: Strategic Northwest Indiana Location with Growing Economic Base”
Supporting Narrative Elements:

• “Population growth in the top third of Indiana counties signals regional confidence”
• “Diverse industrial base with manufacturing and logistics advantages”
• “Strategic location advantage: one hour to Chicago, two hours to Indianapolis”
• “Skilled workforce supported by nearby strong educational institutions”

Step 5: Template Structure

Here’s a potential layout structure:

Source: Indiana Business Research Center via StatsAmerica, from U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Design Tools and Resources

Free design platforms:

• Canva: Pre-built infographic templates
• Google Slides: Professional layouts with data import capabilities
• PowerPoint: Advanced chart customization options

Pro tip: Create a template once, then update the data for different time periods or comparison regions.

Quality Control Checklist

Before finalizing your one-page profile:

• ✔Accuracy: Double-check all numbers against sources on StatsAmerica or elsewhere.
• ✔Relevance: Each statistic should support your main story.
• ✔Readability: Can someone understand the key message in 30 seconds?
• ✔Action-oriented: Does it compel the reader to want to learn more?
• ✔Source attribution: Always credit data sources.

Advanced Tips for Different Audiences

For site selectors: Focus on workforce quality, infrastructure, and cost factors.
For investors: Emphasize growth trends, market access, and business climate indicators.
For policymakers: Highlight economic development outcomes and regional comparisons.

Making Your Profile Dynamic

Consider creating multiple versions of your one-page profile:

• Quarterly updates with latest employment data
• Industry-specific versions highlighting relevant sectors
• Comparison versions benchmarking against competitor regions

Conclusion

Effective one-page economic profiles are strategic tools that transform raw data into compelling regional narratives. By focusing on 5-7 key indicators, using strong visual design principles, and crafting a clear story arc, you can create profiles that inform and persuade.

The key is remembering that your audience doesn’t want to see all your data—they want to understand what makes your region worth their time, investment, or attention.

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis via StatsAmerica.org; COLI Cost of Living Index via STATS Indiana.