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Main Street Lending Program, PPP loans and Opportunity Zones

On June 16 IEDC hosted a webinar entitled “Wish You Were Here: Tourism in a New Age” which discussed the role economic developers can play in helping tourism industry partners working towards economic recovery. Daniella Middleton, Senior Vice President Development Counsellors International moderated the webinar with experts from three distinct regions.

Economic development organizations (EDOs) face an uncertain future as plummeting revenue streams and rising costs for health care, emergency response and unemployment benefits sparked by the coronavirus pandemic squeeze the budgets of cities and states.

Broadband has been a key indicator of disparities in economic and social development opportunities, and this has become even clearer during a crisis requiring the rapid expansion of virtual connectivity. Economic development and recovery, especially in areas where these impacts have been exacerbated by a lack of reliable, high-speed internet, will increasingly rely on expanding access.