At the Mar 16 council meeting and study session, we heard from Pam Kelrick, who heads the GIS Consortium (GISC). GIS stands for Geographic Information System, and since 2003 the consortium collects, maintains, distributes and analyzes data about agency infrastructure in a searchable database form. This includes things like tax parcels, water systems, sewer systems, streets and zoning. This data is not only helpful “in house” but the GISC also sells some of it to commercial agencies and brokerage firms. For example, that’s how your car’s GPS system gets its maps.

The geospatial technology industry is growing at an annual rate of 35% per year, with the commercial subsection of the market expanding at 100% each year. The U.S. Dept of Labor has identified it as one of its top ten “high growth” industries, and a survey of geospacial service providers revealed that 87% of respondents have trouble finding qualified personnel. Our group in Missouri is in a unique position to help address geospacial workforce needs, create jobs and leverage a broad range of assets now and into the future. 

Pam has submitted a proposal to the Governor as part of the stimulus package for GIS services that would create a Northeast Missouri Geospacial Collaborative (GC). The vision is that it would leverage the strongest of our region’s economic resources – in government, education and health – to meet collective needs and take advantage of opportunities. Education and health are not merely “services” in Northeast Missouri; they are the economic engines of our community/region and thus springboard further economic development.

The concept has been in development for months and could be implemented relatively quickly. From the stimulus package, Pam requested start-up funds for equipment, software and the initial hire of a single person to augment existing personnel. 

Member agencies of the GISC are the City, Adair County Commissioners and the Adair County Public Water Supply District. The Geospacial Collaborative (GC) would bring together personnel of the GISC, Truman State University, A.T. Still, Moberly Area Community College, and the University of MO Extension Telecommunications Community Resource Center.

For more info on GIS, see this site.