Maryland has launched a series of online resiliency tools to help provide important data to local economic and government decision makers.

These four dashboards provide critical information allowing local economic developers and organizations to create strategies to help the region address economic shocks, while building resiliency against future events.

Created in partnership with the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative (ESRGC) at Salisbury University, these data-driven tools are part of a multi-year project that was funded through part of a $1 million grant from the Economic Development Administration  (EDA). The dashboards also build on ESRGC’s existing work within the Eastern Shore Economic Recovery COVID-19 Project .

Located on the Maryland Department of Commerce website, the series of tools includes:

• The Maryland Manufacturing Industry Dashboard, showcasing the strengths and industry opportunities that exist within the state;
• The Maryland Manufacturing Workforce Dashboard, exploring the state’s manufacturing workforce characteristics, and providing data on demographics of employees and new hires;
• The Maryland Transferable Skills Dashboard, providing tools to analyze the state’s occupations and assortment of skills that are preferred in each profession;
• And the Maryland Economic Dashboard, a quick and easily accessible guide to demographic, economic, and social data for each of Maryland’s regions.

These dashboards provide not only data, but also maps, graphs, and other information at a county level for the entire state, allowing for comparisons across jurisdictions, the creation of custom geographic regions, and data for multiple years.

“Making Maryland’s economy stronger and more competitive requires teamwork as well as reliable, accurate information. Maryland Commerce is proud to work with our partners at Salisbury University and the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative to provide these free, data-driven tools,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “These dashboards will help economic development organizations, business leaders, and local governments respond to unexpected economic challenges. We’re grateful to the U.S. EDA for funding this critical research project.”