KU center named lead business industry and data center by U.S. Census Bureau

Institute for Policy, Social Research leading source of economic data

Kansas communities, companies and individuals in need of reliable economic data have long turned to the Institute for Policy and Social Research. Recently the institute, known as IPSR, received wider recognition of its role, as the U.S. Census Bureau designated it the Business and Industry Data Center lead agency for the state.

IPSR compiles and publishes the annual on-line Kansas Statistical Abstract, and has been part of the Census Bureau’s State Data Center partnership program for many years. Much of the information produced by IPSR is available free on the Internet at http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ or at modest cost in other forms.

Steven Maynard-Moody, director of IPSR, sees the designation as recognition of the staff and research resources developed over a number of years.

“We are a primary source for easily accessible information about the Kansas economy,” he said. “That is useful to small communities seeking to attract new businesses. It’s also useful to businesses – in Kansas and elsewhere – that are looking to locate or expand in the state.”

Xan Wedel, pronounced Zan Weedle, an information specialist at IPSR, has responsibility for the designation. She has been at IPSR since 1999 and is a past chair of the National State Data Center Steering Committee.

“With this designation the state has its first center dedicated to meeting the needs of users of economic data,” she said. “It’s another opportunity to serve the state and fulfill our mission as a research university.”