Equity Explorer

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The Equity Explorer mapping tool allows County departments and other stakeholders to explore data throughout Los Angeles County to identify and prioritize areas of the highest need based on populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The mapping tool utilizes the COVID-19 Vulnerability and Recovery Index (Index) to stratify County cities and communities into five need tiers ranging from highest to lowest need based on COVID-19-related risk, severity, and recovery need indicators. The Equity Explorer mapping tool also features economic, health, environmental, education, demographic, and justice filters that allow users to access summary statistics for geographies down to the census tract level. The County is using the Index to ensure $1.9 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds reach areas at greatest risk for COVID-19 infection and severity, as well as areas most impacted by the health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic. The County’s first tranche of funding consists of 82 programs across 17 Departments using the mapping tool to target their ARP program funding resources, totaling $975,000,000 toward communities with the greatest need.