Pandemic Recovery

WUPPDR has a leading role in planning for the region’s recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic. Beginning with funding support from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 via the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), WUPPDR undertook a planning process with extensive stakeholder input and conducted three priority projects related to pandemic recovery.

Pandemic Response & Resiliency Plan

WUPPDR developed the Pandemic Response and Resiliency Plan (PRRP) as a rapid-response initiative to analyze short-term impacts and trends of the pandemic and to identify actions needed for both short-term response and initial long-term recovery.

In July 2020, WUPPDR began to solicit input from stakeholders in all economic sectors of the region, initially in a large kickoff meeting and later through small-group sessions and one-on-one interviews. In addition, many data sources and initial research results were evaluated and utilized to bolster the qualitative and anecdotal content.

The initial plan was completed in March 2021. It includes an early roadmap for recovery. The plan became an appendix to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region adopted in December 2021. The CEDS also includes a brief update to the key topics and issues in the PRRP.

The grant program ended in summer 2022, but some ongoing implementation activities will occur under EDA Partnership Planning and other grant programs.

The Pandemic Response and Resiliency Plan is included in the CEDS Appendix.

Implementation Projects

Three PRRP implementation projects were developed over the course of the program:

Each project was guided by a committee that met several times early in the grant period. Beginning in January 2022, the three committees came together for combined monthly meetings, generally via videoconference. Meeting materials are available below.

Acknowledgments

We thank the dozens of diverse stakeholders who participated in development of the PRRP, implementation project committees, individual interviews, and small group discussions. This would not have been possible without you! A non-exhaustive list can be viewed here.

Meeting Agendas

Meeting Presentations