Contact: Tom Thieding, 608-267-9661 tom.thieding@wisconsin.gov
Gail Towers MacAskill, 608-438-5891 gail.towers@wisconsin.gov
Cate Rahmlow, 414-302-2828 crahmlow@wisconsin.gov
Link to Release: http://commerce.wi.gov/wedc/News-086.html
MADISON – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) today released the Community Economic Recovery Guidebook to assist economic development organizations, businesses and community leaders in preparation of economic recovery from a disaster.
Steps taken by local civic leaders in the first critical weeks can make a significant difference in offsetting direct impacts and side effects of a disaster. A key factor, for whole community recovery, is having an economic strategy in place for post-disaster business survival and a willingness to adapt strategically for long term recovery.
“The Community Economic Recovery Guidebook provides a framework of discussion to helps local leaders speed disaster recovery by addressing key economic stabilization and recovery issues before a disaster occurs,” said Gail Towers MacAskill, Economic Development Specialist with WEDC, and co-author of the guidebook.
The economic recovery guidebook is a framework for local businesses, community leaders and economic development organizations to develop an economic recovery strategy for their communities. Using real situations and national best practices, the guide connects disaster management functions with economic development principles to identify strategies and suggests action steps for before and after a disaster.
The guide recommends communities develop a Local Economic Advisory Recovery Network (LEARN) to ensure the lines of communication among community leaders, businesses and economic development support organizations are established before an emergency.
“The importance of a LEARN group is being reinforced by the experiences and lessons learned in communities such as Joplin, Missouri; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Nashville, Tennessee and Minot, North Dakota,” said Cate Rahmlow, Economic Development Specialist with WEDC and project co-author.
The guidebook is one result of a three-year grant to maximize economic recovery, and was funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and implemented in partnership with various state and local government agencies. Obtain a copy of the Community Economic Recovery Guidebook at http://bit.ly/wirecovery.
The WEDC is Wisconsin’s lead economic development agency.
