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Corps of Engineers Regional Economic System (RECONS) Version 2.0 Receives Model Certification

Published Oct. 17, 2019
This is a screenshot of the updated RECONS 2.0 system

This is a screenshot of the updated RECONS 2.0 system

This is a screenshot of the RECONS 2.0 front page.

This is a screenshot of the RECONS 2.0 front page.

This is a graphic showing the new covers for the User Guide and Methods Manual

This is a graphic showing the new covers for the User Guide and Methods Manual

The Corps' Regional Economic System (RECONS) 2.0 model is a nationally-certified model designed for Regional Economic Development (RED) assessments with unlimited access Corps wide. The 2.0 version of RECONS is an update and enhancement of the previously-certified 1.0 version.  Extensive technical and usability reviews of the model were accomplished by a national review team. The model certification process followed the guidance per “Memorandum dated 4 December 2017, Modification of the Model Certification Process and Delegation of Model Approval for Use”, and “Memorandum dated 11 May 2018 Delegation of Model Certification” and reflects version RECONS 2.0. It meets the certification criteria contained in EC 1105-2-412.

RECONS is an agency-wide, web-based application that can be accessed by multiple, authorized users from any machine with Internet access. It is designed to provide accurate and defensible estimates of regional economic impacts and contributions associated with Corps projects, programs, and infrastructure across Corps Civil Works business lines. Regional economic impacts and contributions are measured as economic output, jobs, income, and value added.  The RECONS model was developed to help project co-sponsors and other stakeholders better understand regional-level economic implications of Corps water projects and evaluations.  It is conducted under a Regional Economic Development (RED) account planning framework and in response to requests for better information on regional-level economic activities.

Estimates are provided simultaneously for three geographic impact areas: local, state, and national. RECONS incorporates a mapping function that allows users to see the economic impact region for 1500 different impact models. It also provides information about demographic and economic characteristics of these areas.   This added information provides a greater understanding for assessing regional-level economic impact estimates, as well as regional-level economic significance of USACE activities.  RECONS allows users to produce Word document and spreadsheet reports of the results of different analyses, including a comprehensive assortment of tables.  It is currently available to all USACE employees and contractors with USACE credentials.

For more information about RECONS, please visit the RECONS website - link.

Please contact webmaster-IWR2@usace.army.mil for questions regarding access to RECONS.