Utility Promotes Economic Development with ArcGIS Desktop

American Electric Power (AEP) is uniquely positioned to support business expansion and community development in its service territory which spans 200,000 square miles and provides electricity to parts of 11 US states. The company’s economic development team works with local communities and state agencies to promote economic growth.

AEP recently redesigned its economic development website, aeped.com, which provides analysis on business feasibility to site selectors and companies looking to expand in the utility’s service territory. They used ArcGIS Desktop to create thematic and analytical maps that display a wide range of data. They used the Business Analyst web app to construct drive-time polygons for potential development sites, and to report business and demographic data.

The company's economic development team works closely with local communities and state agencies to promote economic growth. In 2015, the team generated 170 business attraction and retention projects that created 22,500 jobs throughout its service territory.

“Geography is fundamental in economic development,” said Mark James, AEP's vice president of economic and business development. “Economic developers primarily sell location, and our new website makes it easy to see why AEP and our service territory is the best choice for their next expansion project.”