Economic developers now have half a billion new “friends.” The first-ever Facebook applications created exclusively for economic development organizations officially launched today at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit. The free apps, downloadable here, were created by GIS Planning Inc. to reach this exploding global network of more than 500 million people.
The tools allow economic developers to share customized real estate, business and demographic data about their areas across the social network’s massive audience. The apps pull data from ZoomProspector, a free web site developed by GIS Planning which helps companies identify the best locations for them to grow and succeed.
“Today, the most successful businesses and economic development organizations consider Facebook a must-use strategy,” said Anatalio Ubalde, CEO of GIS Planning and ZoomProspector.com. “These new tools will help economic developers better position themselves for business investment and job creation on the world’s largest social media site.”
Specifically, GIS Planning is offering two apps designed to be installed directly onto an economic development organization’s Facebook page:
1) Property Search – Allows visitors to quickly search for available retail, office and industrial properties, and see “featured” properties, chosen by economic developers, with images.
2) Demographic Data – Provides immediate access to customized current data from a specific region or state, including population, labor force, entrepreneurship/innovation statistics and taxes.
The Facebook apps link to www.ZoomProspector.com, allowing new and expanding businesses to find, compare and deeply analyze communities and available properties nationwide.
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