A new county-level data dashboard breaks down the factors contributing to livability across Tennessee.

The Tennessee Livability Indicators Dashboard is the work of a coalition of 26 state agencies and institutions and is considered to be of particular importance for Tennessee's rural counties.

Qian Huang, research assistant professor in the Center for Rural Health and Research at East Tennessee State University, said researchers identified a need for a public platform with a wide range of data about how people are being served by their communities.

"This dashboard includes over 70 different indicators that cover all sorts of areas like health, economic development, housing, transportation, education, among others," Huang outlined.

The dataset could play a key role in guiding how Tennessee uses money from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.

Huang noted the dashboard reveals significant differences between rural and urban areas, especially when it comes to health outcomes and access to care. Rural residents often face greater barriers, including fewer nearby healthcare facilities. She stressed the goal is to turn data into action by giving policymakers the tools they need to prioritize resources.

"We provide the evidence for them to make decisions and see how to allocate the resources and how can we better improve the life quality for rural communities," Huang explained.

She pointed out the dashboard is already being used by several Tennessee agencies to support planning and investment decisions. The platform paints a clearer picture of economic conditions, population trends and gaps in services.

Source: Public News Service