ProspectVue: Search by 'Local-Serving' Clusters (Step-by-Step User Guide)

This step-by-step guide introduces a method for quickly finding the 'Local-serving' businesses hardest-hit by the COVID 19 closures. The method combines EconoVue's ability to search by multiple NAICs codes with resources made available by the U.S. Cluster Mapping Project (a joint effort by Harvard Business School's Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Economic Development Administration). 

The following steps instruct how to: retrieve a spreadsheet from the cluster mapping project website; filter that spreadsheet to find 'Local-serving' NAICs codes; copy/paste the NAICs codes from the spreadsheet and into EconoVue; and then how to build targeted outreach lists in EconoVue based on those NAICs codes.

1 Download the US Cluster Definitions workbook. The columns in this workbook will help you to make connections between individual NAICS codes and different industry 'clusters.'

2 Use the second tab, titled 'NAICS' to conduct your research. This tab contains the following valuable information:

• Column A: A list of all NAICS codes
• Column F: A descriptive label for each code
• Column G: A designation of Traded or Local
• Column I: The cluster grouping of related code

3 Search with Column I to find the type of company you are looking for. For example, you might search for 'Local Hospitality' or 'Local Personal Services' to find companies needing immediate Rapid Response intervention from your Board. Or search for 'Medical Device' to find manufacturers that are ramping up production to meet the current demand for medical equipment and may be hiring.

4 Note all of the specific NAICS codes that are associated with your selected cluster. In our example, within the Local Hospitality cluster, there are 47 related NAICS codes ranging from campgrounds to conventions centers.

5 Select and copy all of the NAICS codes in column A that correspond to your selected cluster.

6 In ProspectVue, paste all of the NAICS codes into the search box. Then click your desired area on the map.

7 Your search results will be displayed on the map and listed on the left side of your screen. The results will contain all of companies falling within any of the copied and pasted NAICS codes.

8 Use the drop down filter menu to further refine your list. You can sort and refine your list in several ways: number of employees, financial stress, individual NAICS code, and more. (Learn more about filters here.)

9 Print your search results via spreadsheet or import (save) them for access to additional contact details and easy retrieval in the future.