Responding to the Economic Impacts of Coronavirus: A Proposed Oregon Economic Recovery and Resilience Framework

Abstract

In this white paper, we have gathered thoughts on how policymakers, economic development
professionals, and other stakeholders can organize around economic continuity and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as communities are still dealing with the immediate health impacts, businesses are shuttered, and the initial wave of federal money flows in, local governments should start planning for recovery now. To jumpstart planning, we offer a framework for organizing longerterm continuity and recovery activities. We stop short of recommending specific objectives or actions.

Those should be regionally identified and should be vertically implemented at all levels. Effective
continuity and recovery efforts will require an unprecedented level of collaboration across a spectrum of public and private economic development partners.

We are aware that some regions and local governments are already implementing some of the
strategies discussed in this paper. We encourage others to consider them, understanding there is no single structure that will work for everyone. We also recognize that we are in a very fluid time and events are evolving rapidly. We share these thoughts in the spirit of learning of learning together as we go. We hope that it will open up productive conversations that lead to improved collaboration during recovery and beyond. We’re all in this together.

Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, economic development, economic continuity