Policy Map: A pretty cool tool!

Do you like maps? Do you like seeing what different data can tell you? If so, then I invite you to check out Policy Map. It is a service that aggregates many different data sources and allows users to develop custom GIS maps that reflect that data. 

The base service level is free and allows you to create maps with access to many of the basic datasets. To do more, such as create tables or charts, you will need a subscription plan. Make no mistake, the subscription plans are not for the faint of heart. A “standard subscription” is going to run $2,000/year (or $200/month) and a “premium subscription” costs $5,000/year. Some universities have Policy Map subscriptions, so it’s worth checking out your local university if you have a relationship with them. I could also see, if you are working on a big grant, possibly paying the $200 for one’s month worth of access to get all the data research done in one fell swoop.

And are you wondering where Policy Map came from? Well… long ago the Fannie Mae Foundation managed a program called the Reinvestment Fund. This fund provided money to non-profits to create rental and ownership affordable housing. One day, the Fannie Mae Foundation pulled the plug on the Fund and went dark. A few years later they re-emerged with this new mapping service. At first it was all free for everyone, but over the years they have monetized it, but have also added a lot more functionality.