BRE Intelligence in the Era of COVID: What are we learning and how will it change economic development

May. 29, 2020

Since the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, economic developers around the country have been reaching out to their employers --- large and small --- to understand the impact of the virus. Many professionals believe that the unprecedented scope of the pandemic will result in long-lasting changes to their economies and to the economic development profession.

On May 21, the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) sponsored a complimentary webinar addressing these issues to 500 participants. The webinar included a panel of Ohio and national leaders in Business Retention and Expansion, moderated by Mark Barbash, director of OEDA. The panel explored what economic developers are learning and how this could change the profession and their economies. Each of the panelists brought to the conversation the findings of their BRE efforts since the advent of COVID 19 and their thoughts on how the profession could change as a result.

View the recording of the webinar here.

Nancy Bowen, associate professor and field specialist, community economics, OSU Extension, community development, participated on the panel and presented these slides.

Other panelists included:

  • Eric Canada, CEO, Blane Canada
  • Erik Collins, Director, Montgomery County Community and Economic Development
  • Eric Phillips, Marysville/Union County Economic Development Director
  • Dean Whittaker, Whittaker Associates
  • Sylvio Mecone, Senior Director of Business Development, TeamNEO