The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations: Report and Recommendations to the 83rd Texas Legislature

The status of the state of Texas’s Veteran Affairs and Military Installations was analyzed in this study in order to make significant recommendations for improvements using the REMI model to identify and quantify the contributions of numerous military bases to the state economy. Researchers evaluated Texas for a variety of impacts, including its veteran employment situation, transfer of Veterans Employment Services to the Texas Veterans Commission, backlog of Veterans Affairs claims, commitment to higher education opportunities to veterans, Veterans Resource Centers, and the role of Texas Military Forces. From that evaluation came substantial recommendations calling for program expansions, increased funding, transfer continuations, enhanced authorizations, and improved criteria for the various entities within this report.

Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Military Installations – The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations: Report and Recommendations to the 83rd Texas Legislature [full PDF]

Lehigh Valley Surface Transportation Plan 2011-2030

This report prepared by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study documented the current status of transportation projects in the Lehigh Valley and recommended solutions to solve long term transportation problems in the Lehigh Valley. The Commission incorporated the REMI model into the study to develop a regional forecast of population and the forecast created numerous results, including low income concentrations primarily being located in the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, transit ridership in the Lehigh Valley increased 69% since 1997, and municipal zoning has been amended to accommodate urban growth spreading into rural Lehigh Valley. Short range, mid range and long range transportation plans and their corresponding impacts were considered for this report as well to assist in measuring the periodical growth and changes within a transportation program of this magnitude.

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission – Lehigh Valley Surface Transportation Plan 2011-2030 [full PDF]

The Economic Impact of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™: An Estimate Based Upon the Performance in the Spring of 2010

This report analyzed the economic impact of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo upon the overall Houston regional economy using the REMI model. The results indicated that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo annually provided a substantial economic stimulus to the overall regional economy, with regional output at $320 million higher, regional personal incomes raised by over $290 million, more than 7,200 full-time equivalent jobs and an increase of over 16,000 in population, while providing a fiscal dividend to local governments of over $27 million annually as a by-product of this growth. Virtually every sector in the region was impacted to one extent or another and the greatest impact was felt by sectors directly related to the Rodeo, inherently, but the induced effects associated with the dispersion of additional expenditures associated with rising incomes and profits affected all of Houston.

University of Houston – Economic Impact of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™: An Estimate Based Upon the Performance in the Spring of 2010 [full PDF]

Report to The Vermont Legislature: Potential Effects on Job Dislocation As a Result of the Implementation of The Vermont Health Benefit Exchange and Green Mountain Care

Kavet, Rockler, and Associates, LLC were subcontracted for this analysis and they relied on the Rockler REMI model to create projection of how the implementation of the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange and Green Mountain Care would impact employment in Vermont. Researchers determined that specific additional analysis would be needed going forward to address the real economic effects of job dislocation in the health care sector. The analysts recommended refining the workforce impact analysis from this Act 128 study, estimating health care workforce development needs, creating a workforce strategic plan, and collaborating with the general assembly on addressing workforce issues. They also found that a plan to support and respond to health care training and retraining needs was imperative if Vermont wanted to create and maintain a health care system that adequately responded to the health care needs of Vermonters today and in the future.

Vermont Department of Labor – Potential Effects on Job Dislocation As a Result of the Implementation of The Vermont Health Benefit Exchange and Green Mountain Care [full PDF]

Socioeconomic Report for Proposed Amended Rule 1111-NOx Emissions from Natural-Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Central Furnaces

The South Coast Air Quality Management District conduced a socioeconomic analysis assessing the impacts of Proposed Amended Rule 1111-NOx Emission from Natural-Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Central Furnaces in reaching the targets of 2.5 tons of NOx emission reductions per day in 2023 and less than one-tenth of a ton of NOx emission reductions per day in 2014. The macroeconomic analysis that assessed the total socioeconomic impacts of these proposed amendments using the REMI PI+ model estimated that an average of 221 jobs would be foregone annually from 2013 to 2025 across all industries in the four-county area. Increases in prices of furnaces were translated to reductions in consumers’ purchasing power and the increased cost of doing business for affected industries. The sectors of construction, and real estate and rental and leasing were projected to average 47 and 36 annual jobs forgone, respectively, resulting from purchasing compliant furnaces.

South Coast Air Quality Management District – Socioeconomic Report for Proposed Amended Rule 1111-NOx Emissions for Central Furnaces [full PDF]