GCN – The Commerce Department’s Regional Economic Research Initiative will provide accessible data tools, visualizations and expert services help to federal, state, local and tribal decision-makers better understand what kind of projects will promote growth: “A new data initiative aims to increase the understanding of local regional economies and help them compete. The Department of Commerce announced the Regional Economic Research Initiative to provide research and data tools to federal, state, local and tribal decision-makers. The program aims to “help identify strengths and weaknesses of regional economies, uncover new opportunities for growth, provide insights into local economic needs and maximize the impact of regional investments,” officials said in the March 27 announcement. According to Commerce Department analysis, the concentration of opportunities on the coasts and in major cities has increased geographic inequality over the last 40 years.  To reverse that trend, public and private sector investors must understand what kind of projects will encourage business and job growth in previously overlooked geographic areas. The Regional Initiative will give decision-makers accessible data tools, visualizations and expert services they need to address long-standing geographic inequality…”