Introduction to the Fundamentals of Economic Resilience with David Dodd

Economic resilience refers to a community’s ability to better withstand and recover from adverse events. It underscores the deep interdependence between resilience planning and economic development. One noted example is the Nippon Steel plant in Kamaishi, Japan, where inadequate infrastructure repair planning halted operations and created global ripple effects reaching companies like Toyota in the United States.

This workshop will explore how economic resilience efforts—including aligning public and private infrastructure with job creation goals, strengthening essential services, communicating risks, organizing communities, adopting sound land-use practices, and setting clear recovery expectations for businesses—can improve long-term economic stability and competitiveness.

As David Dodd emphasizes, resilience has become a critical factor in investment decisions and corporate location recommendations.

What the Workshop Will Cover

• Core principles of economic resilience

• Connections between resilience and economic development

• National best practices and models

• Practical strategies for communities of all sizes

• How to integrate resilience investment into economic development programs

• How to help resident businesses reduce damage and avoid closure