Advancing Equity in Hillsboro: Building an Equity Index and Geospatial Decision‑Support Toolkit
Gartrell is proud to partner with Esri in supporting the City of Hillsboro, Oregon on an important and forward‑looking initiative: the development of a comprehensive Equity Index and accompanying geospatial toolkit designed to bring an equity‑focused lens to local decision‑making, policy development, and civic investment.
This project builds on similar work our team has been privileged to lead for county library systems, parks and recreation departments, and regional planning organizations—each focused on helping public agencies better understand community needs and advance more equitable outcomes.
A Growing, Changing City Seeking Better Insight
Hillsboro is a dynamic city that has experienced significant population growth and diversification over the past two decades. As the community evolves, so do the needs, opportunities, and challenges faced by its residents. City managers and GIS practitioners recognized that strengthening their analytic toolkit would help ensure that public investments and policies serve all communities effectively.
They were eager to expand their GIS capabilities to include equity‑focused spatial analysis, enabling staff to incorporate data‑driven equity considerations into everyday operations, planning efforts, and resource allocation.
Phase 1: Defining Indicators of Equity
Led by Esri, the first phase of the project focused on collaboration with City stakeholders to define a thoughtful, meaningful set of economic, environmental, and social indicators. These indicators form the backbone of the Equity Index, offering a multidimensional view of the strengths, disparities, and differing lived experiences across communities within the City.
The work included identifying key aspects of access and opportunity—such as income, housing, environmental quality, connectivity, health, and services—that could help illuminate where inequities exist and where resources might be directed.
Phase 2: Building the Equity Index Mapping Tool
With the indicators established, Gartrell is leading the second phase: the design and development of an interactive Equity Index mapping tool. This digital resource will enable City staff, community partners, and residents to explore spatial patterns of opportunity and disparity across Hillsboro.
The tool is being built to:
Visualize inequities and strengths across neighborhoods
Highlight areas where access to opportunity is limited
Support transparent conversations about community needs
Inform strategic investments, policy adjustments, and program development
Help guide efforts to uplift historically marginalized communities
Ultimately, the goal is to give Hillsboro a practical, accessible platform that helps turn data into insight—and insight into action.
Supporting a More Equitable Future
As public agencies grow more committed to addressing systemic inequities, tools like Hillsboro’s Equity Index become essential. We’re honored to support a city that is leaning into data‑driven equity work with intention and care, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration as Hillsboro builds a more inclusive future for all its residents.