Maryland Commerce Launches Innovative Property Tool
ZoomProspector mines demographic data, detailed information on available buildings and sites in the state
BALTIMORE, MD (December 14, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Commerce is rolling out an enhanced online tool to help businesses looking to move into Maryland or expand in the state find both the properties and the Maryland communities that best meet their needs. The property search engine, known as ZoomProspector, is available on the department’s website and offers a broad range of information about available buildings and sites as well as demographic information about communities across the state.
ZoomProspector provides data on an area’s population size, labor force profile, median household income, housing affordability, local economic incentives and proximity to public transportation. Once users have identified geographic areas that meet their needs, they can find nearby properties that match their search criteria. Using geographic information system software developed by GIS Planning, ZoomProspector’s intuitive tools and data infographics allow users to map, chart and graph complex data to make it easy to use. This research can be easily exported, emailed or shared on social media.
“We want to make it easy for businesses considering a move to Maryland or planning an expansion here,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “ZoomProspector not only significantly streamlines what can often be a lengthy search process, but also highlights our state’s outstanding assets and vibrant communities.”
Commerce actively posts property information received from brokers and property owners — with a focus on industrial and office buildings that have 20,000 square feet of available space and sites with 10 acres or more ready for industrial or office development.
Among the information provided by the cloud-based search tool are statewide maps showing broadband access, priority funding areas, enterprise zones, and consumer spending habits such as how much people spend on education, entertainment, and health care each year. When searching for buildings and sites, users can also filter results by specific criteria, such as connections to public water and sewer lines and whether or not the properties are served by rail lines.
Commerce’s local government partners also have access to ZoomProspector at no cost, and can embed customized, jurisdiction-specific versions of the tool on their own websites. Those partners can also add properties to the system as they become available and then edit the listings as needed.
“It’s great for us to be able to partner with Commerce on the ZoomProspector tool because it offers a cost-effective way for site selectors to search for properties on our own website and see that Rockville is a great place to do business,” said Laurie Boyer, executive director of Rockville Economic Development Inc. “It gives us a competitive advantage over jurisdictions who don’t have this kind of partnership.”
About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
