Frequently Asked Questions
General Information About the Project
What's the history of the State of the Region project?
Based on the premise, "you can't manage what you can't measure," the University at Buffalo Regional Institute founded the State of the Region project in 1998 to monitor the Buffalo Niagara region's performance in key areas read more...
How do I contact the State of the Region project team?
State of the Region Project Team
c/o University at Buffalo Regional Institute
Beck Hall
Buffalo, NY 14214-8010
Phone: 716 829-3777
Fax: 716 829-3776
E-mail: regional-institute@buffalo.edu
How do I schedule a presentation on the State of the Region project?
If your group or organization would like to schedule a State of the Region presentation, you may download a "Presentation Request" form. Complete the form and fax or mail it to Sharon Ana Entress, State of the Region Project Manager.
How can I receive information on State of the Region project news and updates?
To receive periodic e-mail updates on the UB Regional Institute and its research and programs, including the State of the Region project, you may subscribe to the UB Regional Institute mailing list. Click here and enter your contact information in the box provided.
The State of the Region project has produced three major reports since its founding in 1998, including the baseline report in 1999, a progress report in 2000, and a second progress report in 2002 that focused on issues of Equity in the Buffalo Niagara region. The project also published a newsletter in 2005 reviewing the project's transition to an online format.
How can I order State of the Region publications?
Click here to download and fill out an order form for State of the Region reports and publications.
Using the State of the Region Project Web Site:
How is the site organized?
What are the contents of each Indicator?
- Since Last Report: A summary of an existing indicator's change since its last assessment by the State of the Region.
- Why it Matters: Describes a new indicator's relevance to measurements of regional quality of life.
- About the Indicator: Details the measures and sources used to assess performance.
- Regional Performance: Describes the region's performance on the indicator, often including past trends as well as current conditions.
- A Closer Look: Highlights interesting or relevant aspects of performance, such as contributing factors, within-region patterns or comparisons to other regions.
- Goals: Assesses the indicator's status against both short-term and long-term goals set by the State of the Region; adjusts existing goals or proposes new goals based on recent trends or regional activities.
- Progress Toward Goals: As each indicator is updated, the project determines whether the region is on pace to achieve the initial short-term or long-term goal; goals are adjusted if necessary to provide more realistic objectives.
- Action Steps Suggests various steps the region can take to reach these goals; identifies parties who may be best able to take the lead on these recommended actions.
- Data Notes: Reviews the data sources and research methodology used for the indicator.
- Related Indicators: Lists several other State of the Region indicators that may be linked to the performance of the indicator under review.
How can I view the project's assessments of regional progress toward goals?
Key to Progress Symbols
Baseline Indicator
Progress Toward Goals
Regress From Goals
No change or mixed progress
To assist the region in gauging progress, the project has set short-term
and long-range goals for each indicator in all 11 topic areas. For a snapshot
of the region's progress in that area, click the "Progress Over Time" icon
at the top of each topic area page. There you can learn whether the region
is on pace to achieve its performance goals. The status of each indicator
is portrayed as "progress toward goals," "regress toward goals," or "mixed
progress." The "baseline indicator" symbol denotes new or modified indicators
for which progress cannot be assessed at that time.
What are different options for accessing indicators?
You may Search the State of the Region project Web site by keyword or sort project indicators by topic area and/or year.
How can I print or download indicators?
If you wish to print an indicator, click on the "Print Version" icon at the top of the page for a printer-friendly format.
If you wish to download the indicator, click on the "PDF Download Version" icon at the top of the page.
What criteria are applied for the development of a new indicator?
The following are the characteristics of an "ideal" indicator for the State of the Region project:
- outcomes-based
- valid and reliable
- understandable to an informed citizen
- bias-free
- routinely measured
- conducive to goal-setting and action, and
- relevant to the region.
Why does the State of the Region project characterize the region as "the Buffalo-Niagara region" in some cases, and as the "Buffalo Niagara region" in others?
Within the past several years, the most commonly applied proper name for the region has changed from the "Buffalo-Niagara" to the "Buffalo Niagara" region. All occurrences of the region's name on the Web site reflect this usage. However, the style used for the project's first three reports (1999, 2000, and 2002) remains as it was at the time of publication — "Buffalo-Niagara region."
How can I learn more about the project's data sources and research methodology?
Data sources and notes on methodology are referenced in the "Data Notes" section at the end of each indicator page. Here you can review specific sources of information and how the State of the Region project conducted its analyses. Links are provided, where applicable, to the agencies and organizations providing the data.