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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) What is MetroMSP.org? MetroMSP.org is a powerful economic development and site selection tool covering the 11-county Minneapolis/Saint Paul region. It has two sides that are seamlessly linked so users can go back and forth with ease.
What is MSPProspector.com? MSPProspector.com is a GIS-based site selection website which gives site selectors, business owners and economic development professionals instant access to essential information on commercial and industrial sites in Minnesota’s 11-county MSP region. The tool is built around interactive Google maps which display available properties and their proximity to other businesses, transportation routes and important landmarks. In addition to content-rich maps, MSP Prospector provides layers of site-specific data on demographics, consumer spending, competitor and ally businesses, and workforce. MSP Prospector is powered by ZoomProspector, a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform developed by GIS Planning, Inc. This sophisticated mapping system enables users to instantly search more than 5,000 available property listings and generate detailed, site-specific reports. The tool greatly simplifies the process of finding the optimal business location in the Metro MSP region.
Who can use this tool? MetroMSP.org and MSPProspector.com are free and available to anyone with an Internet connection. However, they specifically cater to the needs of site selectors and consultants, businesses considering an expansion or relocation, entrepreneurs starting or growing a business, brokers, and community or economic development staff.
Who funds MetroMSP.org? This free tool is funded by a regional, public/private consortium convened and administered by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber Development Foundation. Links to funders can be found in left sidebar.
Are the MSP Prospector maps interactive? Each property listing is linked to an interactive Google map. The map displays important geographic information – including streets, highways, freeways, cities, counties, bodies of water, rivers, railroads, airports, points of interest, educational facilities, and parks. “Layers” of information can be turned on and off for customized viewing. Options range from satellite to street views. Once a property of interest is identified, users can generate site-specific reports based on their preferred radius or drive time.
Who provides the property listings? Property listings are provided by the Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors (MNCAR), which updates them weekly. MNCAR broker contacts are provided for each property. Listings of publicly identified/owned development, redevelopment and transit areas are provided by local governments within the 11-county Metro MSP region. They are updated quarterly. Government and chamber of commerce contacts are provided for these listings.
Who provides the demographic and business data on MSP Prospector? Site-specific data is provided by San Francisco-based GIS Planning, Inc. It relies on Dun & Bradstreet data for its business reports. It uses Applied Geographic Solutions for its demographic estimates and five-year projections.
What types of properties are listed? More than 5,000 commercial, industrial, office, and retail properties in the 11-county Minneapolis/Saint Paul region are catalogued and displayed in the MSP Prospector searchable database. So are dozens of publicly owned development and redevelopment areas – an industry first for GIS Planning. Because MetroMSP.org is a business development tool, residential real estate is not included.
How often is data updated? MNCAR updates its property listings on a weekly basis. Demographic data, consumer expenditure data, and business and workforce data are updated annually. National rankings on MetroMSP.org are updated weekly. Critical market data is updated as frequently as possible to maintain a current and robust resource.
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