CREC Project News and Updates

CREC Selects Five State Teams to Collaborate on the Data Sharing for State Policy Making and Program Evaluation Initiative

August 4, 2016

The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) has selected five outstanding state teams to collaborate with on the Data Sharing for State Policy Making and Program Evaluation Initiative, a two-year effort that aims to help states use privacy-protected administrative data, such as those captured in corporate tax and unemployment insurance (UI) records, to analyze public investments in economic and workforce development. The teams include:

  • Iowa, representing the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Workforce Development, and Department of Revenue.
  • Minnesota, representing the Department of Employment and Economic Development and Management and Budget.
  • South Carolina, representing the Department of Commerce, Department of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, and the Commission on Higher Education.
  • Utah, representing the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
  • Wisconsin, representing the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Department of Revenue, and Department of Workforce Development

Over the next 15 months, state teams will work with one another and CREC experts to design and implement action plans to improve the data sharing environment in their own states, and to establish best practices for the nation’s benefit. CREC experts will also develop tools to help data producers and users compare how different states address corporate tax and UI data confidentiality in law and other resources, including model language for data sharing agreements to support program evaluation and policy analysis.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation was founded in 1966 by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Kauffman Foundation is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and is among the largest private foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $2 billion. Their vision is to foster a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens in their communities.

About This Project

State Data Sharing Initiative
Start Date: Nov 2015 — End Date: Feb 2018

CREC is gathered information about state laws and regulations that govern business revenue and UI data disclosure to determine best practices for maintaining the safety of data as well as best practices for expanding access to confidential data for qualified researchers and policymakers. We will also provide assistance to five states seeking to reform their data governance and sharing policies based on best practices from other states.

About the Client

Laura and John Arnold Foundation

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation’s core objective is to address the nation’s most pressing and persistent challenges using evidence-based, multi-disciplinary approaches. The Foundation strives to create functional solutions that target the root causes, not just the symptoms, of these problems. The solutions must be both scalable nationally and sustainable without permanent philanthropy. Learn more at http://www.arnoldfoundation.org/.