1. What is Washington Prospector?

Washington Prospector is a website that allows users to identify available commercial property in the State of Washington. 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 provided by the State of Washington, and is FREE.

2. How do users access Washington Prospector?

The public can view and use Washington Prospector by visiting the website at www.WashingtonProspector.com. The easy-to-use, browser format lets anyone with an Internet connection use the Web to access Washington Prospector's maps, properties and GIS-based data.

3. How is Washington Prospector different than other site selection website services?

Washington Prospector is unique. In addition to the commercial property listings and the current-year demographic and economic information that is available, Washington Prospector offers access to a breadth of important proprietary 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.

4. What type of properties will be listed?

Commercial, industrial and retail properties for Washington locations will be catalogued and displayed on Washington Prospector.

5. How often will data be updated?

Commercial property information can be updated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so the inventory of available properties will remain current. Demographic data, consumer expenditure data, business and workforce data are updated annually providing the most up-to-date information available. Some data will be updated as frequently as necessary to maintain a current and robust database.

6. What kind of information can users access?

Washington Prospector offers site location data and demographic information for the entire State of Washington. 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 and workforce data 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.

7. Why is the State of Washington investing in Washington Prospector?

The State of Washington recognizes the importance of expanding and sustaining its business community and is therefore committed to making "doing business" as easy as possible. 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, Washington Prospector provides an invaluable, real-time service to the many businesses that contact the State of Washington seeking site selection information.

8. How will companies know about the Washington Prospector GIS site? How is the State of Washington marketing it?

There is a link to Washington Prospector on the State of Washington's website at http://access.wa.gov which attracts many thousands of visitors per month as well as a link on other frequently trafficked sites such as the many local economic development organizations throughout the state. The State of Washington and its partners will promote Washington Prospector in marketing materials.

9. What is GIS?

GIS is an abbreviation for the term "Geographic Information System". A GIS combines layers of geographic information about a place that provide better information about that location. In the case of Washington 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. Washington Prospector allows website users to customize the analysis to their specific needs.

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