Taskforce Goes Live with COVID-19 Economic Recovery Dashboard

The Economic Recovery Taskforce, a subgroup of the Topeka/Shawnee County Community Recovery Taskforce, and Greater Topeka Partnership has released an COVID-19 economic recovery dashboard to convey the economic response in Kansas following the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent recovery response. Information featured includes consumer spending, unemployment claims, poverty rate and online job postings. Data sources for the dashboard include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Food and Nutrition Service U.S. of Agriculture, American Community Survey, Kansas Department of Labor, Kansas Department of Revenue and Harvard University Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker.

“According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, in February 2020 the U.S. entered a recession following a countrywide outbreak of COVID-19. Without looking at the dashboard, many will be aware that the decline in economic activity resulted a rapid change in the U.S. economy. However, as each community in Kansas moves forward with its reopening plans, we will find the impact of recovery reflected in the economic recovery dashboard,” said Freddy Mawyin, GO Topeka senior economic advisor and Economic Recovery Taskforce member.

“It’s important for the public to see the needle move on recovery,” said GO Topeka President Molly Howey, member of the Economic Recovery Taskforce. “Right now, as businesses adjust their operations and reopen their doors, we’re witnessing a resurgence in our economy. The COVID-19 economic recovery dashboard will provide residents opportunity to access up-to-date economic statistics and witness our state’s stride toward recovery.” 

The COVID-19 economic recovery dashboard can be found at https://supporttopeka.com/recovery/. This dashboard is updated regularly.