Our webinar series on Education, Jobs, and Skills involve IURC-NA cities and key stakeholders in a peer-to-peer learning environment to discuss and share challenges and best practices to build long-term learning, networking, and working relationships.
This second session focused on Innovative Local Economic Development- Programmes and Strategies for Post Covid-19 Recovery. The session was moderated by Tricia Hackett, Senior Sustainable Urban Development Expert, and included presentations from:
? Valentina Ridolfi ? Rimini, Italy
? Ben Seigel ? Baltimore, USA
? Gil Carvalho ? Braga, Portugal
? Alex Minnella ? Aurora, USA
? Federico Morábito ? Mendoza, Argentina
During the webinar, we learned about the different strategies the cities have employed to support local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and how these plans and programs align with long-term objectives to boost the local economy.
These are the most important takeaways:
- Rimini?s Strategic Plan for City Transformation:
- Post-WW2 development as a vacation spot for everyone.
- A decade of development creating a model aligned with global tourism trends.
- Current focus on constant innovation and reintroducing the destination to the world.
- Based on a new vision, strategic areas, and scopes of development.
- Medium to long-term horizon with continuous stakeholder participation.
- Six strategic scopes include seaside tourism, urban attractiveness, innovation, territorial recompositing, urban mobility, and welfare.
- Competitive Adjustments and Investments in Rimini:
- Analysis of weaknesses led to identifying a loss of brand value, which was addressed through the Strategic Plan.
- Investments of 150 million euros to revitalize the historical city center and transform 300 hectares of waterfront with public and private funding.
- Post-Pandemic Tourism Revitalization in Rimini:
- Task force created during the pandemic to rebrand and revitalize tourism.
- Action Plan focuses on overcoming business fragmentation and creating the Villages of the Sea Park.
- Three-step process involving ?evangelization?, selection, and training to develop supply chains for entrepreneurial growth.
- Baltimore?s BASE Network Supporting Small Businesses:
- Creation of BASE (Business Assistance and Support for Equity) to reach businesses not accessing recovery packages.
- Strategic Plan includes a technical assistance network, partnerships, and financial assistance programs.
- Implementation of a $25 million ARPA Economic Recovery Fund Program for small businesses.
- Technical assistance and small business grants aimed at serving 7000 businesses in 2022-23.
- Thematic Cluster Presentations:
- Invest Braga?s GATE project in Portugal assisted local businesses during COVID-19 with a digital platform and financial aid.
- Aurora, USA, responded to real estate challenges with long-term urban planning, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure projects.
- Mendoza, Argentina, focuses on post-pandemic sustainable economic development through the ?Mendoza Activa? project supporting private investment, technology incorporation, and employment generation.
Download the presentations:
Presentation ? Innovative Local Economic Development- Post Covid-19 Recovery ? Rimini
Presentation ? Innovative Local Economic Development- Post Covid-19 Recovery ? Baltimore
Presentation ? Innovative Local Economic Development- Post Covid-19 Recovery ? Braga
Presentation ? Innovative Local Economic Development- Post Covid-19 Recovery ? Aurora
Presentation ? Innovative Local Economic Development- Post Covid-19 Recovery ? Mendoza
????