Chmura Services

Custom Studies and Presentations - We deliver thorough studies and presentations to a broad spectrum of audiences. Topics have included how to define the high-technology industry, the impact of knowledge on economic development, pricing in the utilities industry, and competition between banks and credit unions.

Economic Impact Studies - Chmura analyzes the economic impact of construction projects, as well as the impact of companies and industries. This includes traditional input-output analysis, as well as other quantitative methods to determine the impact on area economy, labor market, and other specific markets.

Economic and Workforce Development - We offer a variety of state-of-the-art tools and consulting services to grasp area workforce inventories, industry conditions and target markets, as well as occupation clusters (career ladders). Our scientific approach, which we often couple with focus groups and interaction with key decision makers, leads to products that are understandable, action-oriented, and measurable.

Education Tools - We help educators determine demand for training programs. We survey students, community members, and businesses to gauge the unique regional dynamic interacting with the educational system. Our software identifies the skills and training needs required to move from one occupation to another. Our analysis of regional education providers and industry mix produces comprehensive education gaps: annual deficits or surpluses in the number of graduates from CIP-coded postsecondary education programs.

Focus Groups - Managing the dynamics of multiple groups is critical to a successful focus group session. Understanding how to apply data to set goals and achieve consensus is critical to any mission. Our focus group sessions help natural leaders emerge while teams work to bring the vital issues to the discussion table. Our sessions are built on performance management processes and Malcolm Baldrige principals.

Forecasting - We build sophisticated economic models simulating US, state, and metropolitan areas as well as industry and firm-specific models. Our national model forecasts over 100 indicators, including major economic activities such as GDP, interest rates, housing markets, retail sales, and employment. We publish our national forecasts in the Blue Chip Financial Forecast, and Housing Market Report, as well as the Philly Fed Survey of Professional Forecasters. Our industry and firm-specific models vary from short- to long-term forecasts of such indicators as sales, output, delinquencies, and charge offs.

Labor Market Studies - Chmura offers Labor Market Studies customized to your individual needs. Some organizations offer Labor Market Studies that are little more than a "data dump," with no indication of what is important. While we have always provided accurate, timely data, it is our analysis that sets us apart from the competition. Our customized labor market studies include the data you seek, while providing commentary and analysis to help the non-economist understand the story behind the data. After all, without understanding, data is just a lot of numbers.

Publications - We publish the Virginia Economic Trends© on a quarterly basis for our Virginia-based clients. We create and update customized publications for clients desiring to create value for their customers and investors.

Regional Economic Development - We analyze the strengths and weaknesses of an area’s industry, competitiveness, composition, identifying industry clusters; finding industries that best fit an area’s economic development goals, and target marketing. Work in this area includes regional industry analysis. We can also help firms find the best location for their business using MarketsEQ®.

Site Selection - We provide consulting services to help businesses find the ideal location. Our approach is research-oriented and results driven. Economic Indicators provide a systematic approach to matching your firm’s needs with the best market access for your products and services as well as matching your firm to the skills needed by the local workforce.

Software Solutions - Our many years of experience with economic data and analysis has given us the insight to pull together various data sets and create analytics that answer our customers questions in an efficient manner with easy-to-navigate software. JobsEQ® is a powerful software tool that enables workforce and economic development, education, and job seekers to assess the skills, occupations, and industries that will be in demand or surplus in the future. It provides the information necessary to create a Department of Labor Community Audit. MarketsEQ® helps businesses and economic developers find the ideal location for a particular firm to expand, relocate, or start-up their business. RegionEpub™ is a software portal hosting a wealth of economic indicators for both urban and rural areas. Customizable databases are also available.

Strategic Planning - From vision to mission to implementation and tracking performance measures, we offer a full range of services enabling clients to improve their organization’s efficiencies and customer satisfaction. Our balanced score card is customized to allow users to uncover major improvement opportunities and select key result areas for improved alignment to goals and initiatives for improving the bottom line.