Forecasting Community Needs with Data

Every community relies on essential systems, housing, healthcare, broadband networks and transportation to support quality of life and economic mobility. In a growing metro like Des Moines, Iowa, these systems face mounting pressure as the region attracts new residents and businesses. When infrastructure doesn't keep pace with shifting demographics, resource gaps emerge.

These gaps are evident in everyday life through longer commutes on I-235, crowded clinics in neighborhoods such as Beaverdale and the Historic East Village, high housing costs across Polk and Dallas counties and unreliable childcare options for working families.

In this article, we will explore how data-driven planning helps identify potential shortcomings early, equips leaders to make more informed investments and strengthens the systems that communities like the Greater Des Moines (DSM) rely on most.

Understanding Resource Gaps in a Regional Context

Community resource gaps vary widely depending on geography, demographics and infrastructure. In Des Moines, this might mean a rising demand for affordable housing around Downtown Des Moines (DSM), including areas like the Drake University neighborhood, or a shortage of licensed childcare providers in fast-growing suburbs like Ankeny and Waukee.

In Iowa’s rural areas, connectivity becomes a critical factor for businesses and education. Issues such as outdated infrastructure, high installation costs and limited access to reliable broadband internet are among the unique connectivity challenges faced by rural and remote businesses, which can slow economic growth and widen the digital divide.

DSM's broadband access gaps are primarily found in underserved rural communities located just beyond the metro area. These shortcomings hinder economic development, making it harder to attract new talent and diminishing the quality of life for residents. Addressing broadband access disparities is crucial to building a stronger, more connected DSM, where businesses, schools and families can succeed.

Preventing these breakdowns requires shared accountability among government agencies, nonprofits, developers and employers. It also means fostering leadership through community engagement, where collaboration, trust-building and inclusive partnerships drive real solutions. When residents, businesses and civic organizations, such as the Greater Des Moines Partnership, collaborate, the outcomes are more equitable, sustainable and grounded in the community’s long-term needs.

Identifying Risk Through Data

Data serves as an early warning system by revealing critical trends before they escalate into full-blown emergencies. By tracking shifts in population growth, service usage, employment trends and healthcare access across areas such as West Des Moines, Altoona and Johnston, local leaders can pinpoint pressure points early and take proactive steps to address them.

Capturing these signals requires working with structured and accurate datasets. That starts with investing in data wrangling, the essential process of cleaning, shaping and enriching raw information so it’s ready for meaningful analysis. Without this foundation, insights become unreliable, and the critical signals needed to act on may be lost.

In DSM, well-prepared and timely data play an instrumental role in identifying gaps before they escalate into crises. Community needs assessments built on civic, health and community data that prioritize accuracy and accessibility allow leaders to respond with equity and foresight, shaping smarter decisions long before headlines catch up.

Tools and Technologies Driving Proactive Planning

Predicting what DSM will need tomorrow requires more than spreadsheets. It requires modern planning tools, such as geographic information systems (GIS), predictive analytics and collaborative data-sharing platforms. With GIS mapping tools, planners can visualize housing shortages around Sherman Hill, healthcare deserts near Highland Park or transportation bottlenecks along Fleur Drive.

Predictive modeling takes it further, simulating how anticipated growth in suburbs like Bondurant or Grimes could impact school capacity, public safety needs or water infrastructure. Additionally, cross-agency data collaboration among city planning, the Polk County Health Department, the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and local employers creates a unified vision of where investments are needed most.

Translating Insight into Actionable Strategy

Having the data is one thing, but acting on it makes the difference. In DSM, predictive insights have already informed efforts like infrastructure for the Southeast Connector Project and targeted revitalization plans for the Market District. Deploying mobile health clinics to underserved neighborhoods or expanding childcare support near industrial zones ensures interventions are both targeted and measurable.

Rezoning efforts to encourage mixed-income housing developments near transit corridors, such as DART's bus rapid transit project, illustrate how proactive, data-driven decisions are reshaping the metro. Partnerships with broadband providers are closing gaps in rural broadband deserts, keeping DSM competitive.

Public-private partnerships also play a decisive role. Employers across industries, finance, agribusiness, healthcare and insurance, bring critical insights into workforce needs, housing demands and technology infrastructure.

Forecasting community needs through data focuses on taking early, informed steps to maintain stability and strengthen DSM’s momentum for long-term growth. Cities that adopt integrated, data-informed planning are better equipped to address challenges such as housing affordability, digital access and workforce readiness.

For DSM leaders, the path forward is clear: invest in integrated data systems, foster collaboration across sectors and maintain long-term stewardship of community data assets. That’s how you ensure the region not only adapts but thrives well into the future.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership celebrates the Greater Des Moines (DSM) entrepreneur community and helps small businesses succeed with one-of-a-kind resources and opportunities for networking. Find out how other entrepreneurs have found success by reading their stories and attending local small business events in the region.