In order to develop a plan, and track against it, the community must understand what a) data is available and b) the value of that information (Demonstrating Value, 2009). Good performance measures align with Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), tracking what already exists.
| Collection Challenge | ||||
| Easy | Feasible | Difficult | ||
| Value | High | 3 Definitely Collect | 2 Worth Collecting | 2 Consider an Alternative |
| Of | Medium | 2 Worth Collecting | 1 Collect if have time | 1 Collect If have time |
| Information | Low | 1 Collect if have time | 1 Collect if have time | 0 Ignore |
The performance measures selected below are easy to collect and highly rated on “value of information.” Generally, the Columbia Valley’s CED performance measures and preferred direction include the following:
| Sample Performance Measures | Frequency | Desired Direction | Rationale |
| Population (Census): | Every 5 years | Hold or increase | More residents can support more services and businesses year round |
| Number of businesses: | Annually | Hold or increase | More businesses can support more residents and visitors |
| Number of non profit organizations: | Annually | TBD | Fewer organizations result in economies of scale and scope. More organizations are evidence of community vibrancy |
| Number of housing units: | Annually | Increase | More housing drives down housing construction costs and rents |
| Average cost of housing units: | Annually | Hold | Reduces speculative outside investors from holding empty homes |
| Living Wage: | Annually | Calculate and decrease | Provides a standard rate; encourages work to decrease cost of living & improve quality of employment |
| Living Wage employers: | Annually | Increase | Reduces recruitment & training costs; encourages sustainability |
| Full-time employees: | Annually
|
Increase | Encourages commitment between employers & employees; allows both to plan accordingly |
| Hotel occupancy: | Quarterly | Increase in shoulder seasons | Smooth out demand over the year, driving full-time employment; support of ancillary businesses |
