What is the most effective way to measure your community outreach program's impact on economic development?

Asking already defined "low income" people to 'save' as a measure of success fails to graps what "low income" means. Measuring how many programs they accessed to assist them to feed and house their families. The more resources the better. Asking THEM if they feel more connected to the community. Do they feel empowered to meet with elected officials to highlight systemic system issues etc. Have they developed an informal and fair childcare support system? "Savings" is an indicator of disposable income, which low income do not have

Define Clear Objectives and Outcomes: Clearly articulate the objectives of your community outreach program and the desired economic development outcomes. This will provide a foundation for measurement. Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Identify specific KPIs that align with your program goals. These could include job creation, increased local business revenues, improved educational attainment, enhanced workforce skills, or other relevant metrics. Baseline Data Collection: Gather baseline data before implementing the outreach program to understand the existing economic conditions in the community. This will serve as a reference point for measuring changes over time.

Testing some of the tools with a small group is s really important especially if conducting surveys. Some questions might not be clear or might limit the understanding of certain topics. To overcome this issue it is create to have a co-creation workshop with the target group and than test it further. This would overcome some of the issues with getting the wrong or non relevant information.

Quantitative Data Sources: Employment data from local labor departments. Business financial reports and tax records. Property value assessments. Local government revenue data. Surveys and Interviews: Community surveys to gather qualitative feedback. Stakeholder interviews with businesses, residents, and leaders. Case Studies: Develop case studies highlighting program success stories. Partnership Metrics: Track growth in partnerships and collaborations. Community Feedback: Gather feedback through focus groups and town hall meetings. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluate program efficiency and economic benefits. Long-Term Tracking: Implement mechanisms for ongoing, long-term assessment.

I think undertaking two forms of assessment will help, internal and external reviews. Internal covers how plans, budget, resources and delivery performed against the projected outcome. How you performed against your benchmark is key to understanding how efficient and effective the results. External review will focus on feedback, solutions, opportunities and benefits that the program or development impacted the community and people. Also, success measure sometimes immediately cannot be determined relative to the type of delivery either short-term or long-term project. Example: construction of a dam or road cannot to be assessed successfully after completion but rather after it's projected span period to last.

Results Analysis: Evaluate program outcomes based on quantitative and qualitative data. Assess key performance indicators (KPIs) such as job creation, business revenue, and community feedback. Benchmark Comparison: Compare local economic indicators with regional or national benchmarks. Identify areas where the community outreach program exceeds or falls short of established benchmarks. Insights and Adjustments: Use benchmark comparisons to gain insights into the program's relative success. Make data-driven adjustments to the program based on benchmark analyses for continuous improvement.

Findings: Positive trends in employment, business revenue, and community engagement. Notable successes highlighted in case studies and qualitative feedback. Some areas meeting or exceeding benchmarks, showcasing program effectiveness. Recommendations: Build on successful strategies, emphasizing collaboration and partnerships. Address identified challenges, such as specific sectors or regions showing slower progress. Continue regular evaluations, adapting the program to evolving community needs. Enhance communication channels to ensure stakeholders are well-informed and engaged. Explore opportunities for scaling successful initiatives to maximize economic impact.

Develop case studies and success stories that showcase specific examples of economic development resulting from the outreach program. Highlight individual or business success stories to illustrate the program's impact.

Sustainability: Assess the program's long-term sustainability and its ability to maintain positive impacts beyond the initial phases. Equity and Inclusion: Evaluate the program's impact on marginalized communities, ensuring inclusivity and equitable distribution of benefits. Feedback Loops: Establish continuous feedback loops to stay responsive to community needs and preferences. Adaptability: Build flexibility into the program to adapt to changing economic conditions and unforeseen challenges. Measuring Social Capital: Consider ways to measure the development of social capital within the community, as strong social ties can contribute to economic resilience.