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BU250 - Written Business Communication: Researching Markets

This guide will help students conduct the research for their final project.

Government Sources

The US Government provides a number of resources that can help you find out more about the potential markets for a given company. Use the US Census Bureau to discover how many people live in a given area and about their race, education, and income.

Census Bureau data homepage


The Census Bureau also offers a Business Builder that is specific for small business and can help you find information about potential customers, other business, and consumer spending. Select a type of business and a location to get started.

screenshot of us census business builder

Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County

"The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County is a nonprofit public-private partnership responsible for non-retail business attraction, expansion and retention efforts in Decatur & Macon County."

This site has lots of useful information about the Macon county community and is well worth exploring.

One place to start is at the Resources link. You can see things like a business summary and demographic and income profiles for residents of Decatur, Forsyth, Mt. Zion, and Macon County.

Under Do Business, you can find a business directory of all the businesses in the county.

screenshot of economic development corporation homepage