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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is NWLA Prospector? NWLA Prospector is a website that allows users to identify available commercial or industrial property. The website also provides data including workforce demographics, business information, and interactive maps. The data is created and displayed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) that combines layers of information in order to better understand comprehensive details about a specific location and is powered by GIS Planning's ZoomProspector software. The website is offered as a free service by Alliance Northwest, a confederation of numerous local and regional partner agencies across NW Louisiana. The Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation (NLEDF) acts as the administrative partner for the website. NLEDF is a regionally focused economic development marketing organization serving a ten-parish area. 2. How are commercial properties listed in NWLA Prospector? Any commercial broker, property owner, developer or similar real estate entity can list available commercial or industrial property. The site is offered on a complimentary basis. NWLA Prospector serves as a free, dynamic and comprehensive listing system for brokers and interested companies. With their informed list of leads, website visitors can contact respective brokers directly about specific properties. The website is accessible through various websites including that of the Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation (NLEDF) and promotes the properties listed by real estate professionals. The website also provides critical business data giving enormous exposure to listed properties and real estate brokerage firms. 3. How do commercial real estate professionals get access to NWLA Prospector? It is as easy as 1-2-3. (1) The company calls NWLA Prospector Staff at 4. How do users access NWLA Prospector? The public can view and use NWLA Prospector by visiting the website at NWLA Prospector The easy-to-use, browser format lets anyone with an Internet connection use the Web to access NWLA Prospector's maps, properties and GIS-based data. 5. How is NWLA Prospector different than other site selection sites/services? NWLA Prospector is unique. In addition to the commercial property listings and the current-year demographic and economic information that is available, NWLA Prospector offers access to a breadth of important proprietary local data that is critical to relocation and/or expansion decisions. Business site selection is not just about available commercial buildings. The reason people say real estate is all about "location, location, location" is because it is. By using GIS, a business is able to analyze and evaluate the site-specific advantages and opportunities of each unique business location. 6. What type of properties will be listed? Commercial, industrial and retail properties will be catalogued and displayed on NWLA Prospector. 7. How will the website connect interested parties to the listing broker? The contact information, which is entered by the real estate professional, accompanies each property listing. After entering the listing, along with any additional information (such as photos or other documents), the real estate professional can then update the information - which immediately places the listing on NWLA Prospector and can be viewed on the map. 8. What types of companies are using NWLA Prospector? Commercial and retail firms large and small are taking advantage of this free service. 9. How often will data be updated? Commercial real estate professionals can update their data 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so the inventory of available properties can remain current. Demographic data, consumer expenditure data, business and workforce data will all be updated yearly providing the most up-to-date information available. Some data will be updated as frequently as necessary to maintain a current and robust database. 10. What kind of information can users access? NWLA Prospector offers site location data and demographic information. The asking price, square footage, property description, brokerage company and broker contact information in addition to other vital information will be listed with each property. When considering a specific property, users can also query the demographics, workforce data, and existing market synergy and competition in any radial vicinity of the property. In addition, "layers" of information can be turned on and off on the interactive map display. Individual properties may also include other pertinent information. 11. Why are the numerous partners of Alliance Northwest investing in NWLA Prospector? Alliance Northwest’s partners recognize the importance of expanding and sustaining the regional business community and are therefore committed to making it as easy as possible to do business. Current research suggests that 80 percent of the initial site selection screening is now done through the Internet. With the growing number of people who conduct business on the Internet, NWLA Prospector provides an invaluable, real-time service to the many businesses that contact any of he partner agencies within Alliance Northwest for site selection information. 12. How will companies know about the NWLA Prospector GIS site? How is the site being marketed? Links to NWLA Prospector area found on many sites of the Alliance Northwest partner including that of the Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation (NLEDF) and other frequently trafficked sites. The Alliance Northwest partners will promote NW Louisiana Prospector in all marketing materials and initiatives. 13. What is GIS? GIS is an abbreviation for the term "Geographic Information System". A GIS combines layers of geographic information about a place that provides better information about that location. In the case of NWLA Prospector, the Internet-based GIS allows businesses to identify optimal business locations based on available commercial property, location differences, demographic variations and business industry characteristics. NWLA Prospector allows website users to customize the analysis to their specific needs. For any further questions not addressed above, please contact the website administrative contact at the Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation (NLEDF). Contact Sheila Heard at (318) 677-2536 or shelia@nledf.org. Copyright © 2008 GIS Planning Inc. All Rights Reserved. |