Is anyone else feeling déjà vu from the Spring of 2020? The headlines are heavy, the chaos is real, and many mornings we can’t help but start the day by doomscrolling. As an economic development consultant, I’m hearing the same question from my clients every week: What does all this mean for our local economy?
The honest answer? No one knows for sure. We’re living in a period of profound uncertainty. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. In fact, there are steps local governments and economic development teams can take right now to ground themselves—and their communities—in resilience. Post-pandemic, the term “economic resilience” is most certainly a buzzword. But it’s also an important concept to reflect on. At its core, economic resilience is about a community’s ability to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from economic disruptions. It’s about weathering the storm—and, where possible, growing stronger through it. We’ve all had just had a crash course in resilience, of course. The COVID-19 pandemic tested every community’s ability to stay afloat. Some struggled. Others adapted. The difference often came down to preparedness, collaboration, and the ability to act quickly on what mattered most. As it looks like the storm clouds of uncertainty are going to be with us for the foreseeable future, here are three strategies your economic development team can use to strengthen local economic resilience—starting now.
Trust is the foundation of resilience
Resilience isn’t about plans—it’s about people. When disruption hits, the ability to pivot depends on trust and communication. Relationships are your most important infrastructure. That’s why, on her first day as small business coordinator for Washington County, I shared with my new colleague: A core part of your job is to get coffee with people. Not to pitch or sell—just to build genuine, authentic connections. Those early coffee chats laid the foundation for what’s now a thriving coalition of ecosystem partners. In fact, that coordinator now leads the County’s Economic Development Program, and supports a broad coalition of invested partners. Trust is infrastructure. Invest in relationships not to be transactional but to learn and move towards the transformational.
Own your role—and listen for what matters
You can’t do everything. Stretching too far beyond your core mission spreads your team thin and dilutes your impact. Now is the time to reflect and refine your role within your region’s economic development ecosystem—and double down on what you do best. For small city programs, that might mean reviewing your business support tools and asking: What’s working? What’s not? What needs to evolve to meet today’s challenges? Years ago, during the Great Recession, I managed a storefront improvement program designed to enhance main street retail business aesthetics. But after talking with business owners, it became clear their real pain points were leaky roofs and outdated HVAC systems, not peeling paint. We retooled the program to cover critical repairs. The upgrades weren’t flashy, but they addressed real costs that were holding businesses back. Listen. Adapt. Stay grounded in your core purpose.
Build capacity for community champions
You can’t do everything—but others can step in to fill gaps. Chances are, leaders in your network are already making a difference. With the right support, they can do even more. Ask yourself: Who has done some projects that you admire? Who is a trusted advisor to the community that they serve? Who could take something to the next level with some additional help? Support could take many forms, including small grants, training opportunities, or strategic connections. While running the Economic Development Program at Washington County during the pandemic, I made sure that my team had ongoing engagement with dozens of business support organizations. Through these conversations, we learned that many lacked funding for tech upgrades, staff development, or new service lines. In response, we created a Capacity Building Grant to help them grow their capabilities. The ripple effects reached far beyond our team—multiplying impact to businesses across the county. Invest in people already doing the work. It pays off.