Economic Recovery Support Function

Coordinating Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration

Mission

Integrate the expertise of the federal government to help state, local, Tribal Nation, and territorial governments (SLTTs) and their partners in sustaining and rebuilding businesses, revitalizing employment, and developing economic opportunities that result in economically resilient communities after large-scale or catastrophic incidents.

Before a Disaster

Building Capacity

• Identify risks that may affect economic assets and infrastructure and develop strategies to strengthen local economies, such as programs that encourage economic diversification.

Partnership Development

• Create opportunities for representatives of local and state economic/workforce development organizations to meet federal experts and learn about available recovery resources and assistance programs.
  
  Example: Collaborating with local businesses and economic development partners, including local chambers of commerce and economic development districts, to connect them to Interagency Recovery Coordination teams.

• Support local communities in developing multi-sector partnerships that can bolster economic development projects.

• Collaborate with economic development organizations on data tools, dashboards, and guides to help them plan and effectively implement recovery and resilience strategies.

Planning and Preparedness

• Encourage regional economic development districts to develop Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) that strengthen resilience to risks and hazards, including aligning the CEDS with FEMA approved hazard mitigation plans.
  
  Example: Publishing the CEDS and Hazard Mitigation Plan Alignment Guide.

• Encourage businesses to mitigate risk and create recovery strategies that ensure continuity of operations and prevent workforce and payroll disruptions.
  
  Example: Providing technical assistance and step-by-step support for small business disaster preparedness and recovery planning through the Small Business Administration (SBA) local Small Business Development Centers and the online Ascent platform.

After a Disaster

Building Capacity

• Help identify resources to fund recovery, rebuilding, and resilience efforts, which may include support for disaster recovery coordinators and project funding.
  
  Example: Providing SBA “boots on the ground” to deliver disaster lending programs to homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and small businesses in the aftermath of a disaster.

• Help disaster-affected places take advantage of new economic opportunities, build a workforce for the future, and promote rebuilding efforts that add value to the local economy.
  
  Example: Administering the Department of Labor Dislocated Worker Program to support workers who have lost jobs due to disaster and engaging state vocational rehabilitation programs to assist individuals with disabilities in gaining or regaining employment.

• Provide financial and technical support utilizing SBA resources to help businesses stabilize in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, build back stronger, and support a foundation for long term economic and community recovery.
  
  Example: Leveraging district offices, Small Business Development Centers, and disaster loans and grants to repair and rebuild; providing mitigation options to build back stronger; and making small business government contracts available for disaster response and recovery efforts.

• Provide grants, technical guidance, and loans to support small business development in new and emerging sectors of local and regional economies.

Technical Assistance, Tools, and Training

• Provide technical assistance and economic development data analysis to local and regional leadership.
  
  Example: Coordinating activities with FEMA and SLTTs to deliver early economic stabilization during recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene; providing pre- and post-disaster economic analysis of impacted communities; connecting local businesses and economic development partners to provide federal technical assistance and potential funding.

• Implement workforce development initiatives that provide economically displaced survivors with vocational training for current and emerging employment opportunities, as well as short-term employment opportunities for displaced workers.

• Conduct research studies investigating workforce capacity, supply chain, and infrastructure issues that may hinder recovery, and identify ways to overcome these barriers to encourage economic diversification and growth.
  
  Example: Conducting Workforce and Laborshed Assessment Studies, such as the study developed in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.  

Participating Agencies and Organizations