Downtown Professionals Network (DPN) was retained by the Iowa Department of Economic Development to provide market analysis training and technical services to Iowa communities working with the Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa.

Services being provided by DPN generally consist of:

• "An Introduction to Market Analysis" workshop held at five regional sites across the State of Iowa.

• Presentation of a 4-part Market Analysis Training series conducted via the Iowa Communications Network.

• Additional technical services provided to participating communities that includes a one-day site visit to discuss the implications of market analysis findings and strategies for implementation, and the production of an Executive Summary report.

ICN Training Series

Session 1:

Getting Started

May 2, 2005

• Organizing the process

• Publicizing the process

• Involving stakeholders in the process

• Collecting and reviewing relevant background information

• Assessing conditions

Session 2:

Trade Area and Secondary Research

June 6, 2005

• Defining the geographic dimensions of the trade area(s)

• Procuring and analyzing secondary market data

  • Demographic data

  • Lifestyle data

  • Economic data

• Summarizing research completed to date

Session 3:

Primary Research

July 18, 2005

• Methods for performing primary research

  • Consumer research

  • Business research

• Designing survey questionnaires

• Conducting surveys

Session 4:

Compile, Report, Strategize -- Act!

September 26, 2005

• Compiling, analyzing and reporting market analysis findings

• Assessing implications of market analysis findings for:

  • Downtown development

  • Downtown marketing

  • Downtown businesses

• Presenting market analysis findings

• Acting on market analysis findings

Iowa Market Analysis Training

and Technical Services