The Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan, funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), was made possible by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and a Joint Funding Agreement with the Department for Local Government (DLG). The purpose is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic and assist with the resulting economic injury that occurred due to the virus. With part of this funding being allocated to GRADD, two full time staff persons were hired and dedicated to the creation and implementation of this plan.
The COVID-19 pandemic was addressed in the 2020 update of the Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) where it was listed as a threat to the region, and this Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan is supplemental to that update. The CEDS mentioned some of the impacts COVID had on many aspects of life in the region, but this document goes into more detail. This plan also addresses short-term and long-term approaches to rebuild resilient and sustainable communities throughout the GRADD region. Research began in August 2020 and continued through June 2022. This document was written, updated, and revised over that two-year period.
GRADD created both a PDF and a web based version of the Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan. Those can be accessed using the buttons below.