We have heard much of the effects of severe weather on the US economy over the recent northern winter, with these impacts complicating the task of assessing the strength of the US expansion. Weather events have also been important in Queensland in recent years, and some of them have been very costly.
With data, and results, such investments can also serve as catalysts for additional private investment in underserved areas. A number of methods have been derived for evaluating the effectiveness of community development projects. The one with which I am most familiar, through my work on the board of NeighborWorks America, is the Success Measures Data System.