IEDC in Partnership with EDA Launch RestoreYourEconomy.org:

Assisting Your Community to Prepare for and Recover from the Economic Impacts of a Disaster

www.RestoreYourEconomy.org

WASHINGTON, DC (January 21, 2011) – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC), through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), has developed RestoreYourEconomy.org to provide economic development professionals with practical guidance and post-disaster tools to promote investment, to retain local employment, and restore lost jobs in the event a of disaster. The site exposes readers to the issues, lessons learned, and best practices in making preparations to reduce the economic consequences of a disaster.

"Economic developers are pro-active protectors of our community's critical economic assets. This website provides a forum for us to exchange critical information and best practices, and identify effective strategies for creating an economic recovery and expansion plan. This website is sorely needed to respond to challenges and opportunities in this dynamic economic climate!" said IEDC Chairman, Denny Coleman.

"EDA is pleased to partner with the International Economic Development Council to provide this vital economic recovery tool that will help regions impacted by natural and man-made disasters to connect, identify strengths and share resources and best practices to prepare for future vulnerabilities," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. "This effort is part of EDA's goal to support collaborative regional innovation to promote sustainable job growth and strengthen communities that have suffered disproportionate economic and job losses to become more competitive in the global economy."

At a recent IEDC economic recovery workshop, participants identified the need for immediate access to resources to guide and to connect them with peers who had undergone similar post-disaster economic recovery efforts, as well as to avoid ‘re-inventing the wheel' as they often have to do when faced with a major disaster. Recognizing this fact, IEDC developed RestoreYourEconomy.org for community stakeholders to receive immediate access to critical resources. It is a one-stop shop of resources, tools, events and an opportunity to connect with peers through social networking groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Just last week Economic Development Australia (EDA), the national professional body for economic development practitioners, made a request to IEDC for recovery resources in light of the the 2010/2011 flooding in Queensland, which has caused billions of dollars in damage. RestoreYourEconomy.org was viewed by many of the economic recovery stakeholders and has already received positive feedback for its useful information."

Guidance is divided into pre-disaster and post-disaster topic areas. For each topic, users are exposed to the critical issues, practical steps to take in the response and recovery process, and additional resources for implementing these efforts.

The site also has many documents for download (reports, plans, presentations and more) which can be helpful in starting disaster preparedness discussions in your community and in designing relevant programs and initiatives.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the premier membership organization dedicated to helping economic development professionals create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. Serving more than 4,600 members, IEDC represents the largest network of economic development professionals in the world. IEDC provides a diverse range of services, including conferences, certification, professional development, publications, research, advisory services and legislative tracking. Visit www.iedconline.org to learn more.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

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