Developing a Webinar Series and Supporting Plan Synchronization Following Tornados and Flooding in Kentucky
Client: U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration
In December 2021, tornadoes damaged more than 900 homes and destroyed 100 businesses in Warren County and the City of Bowling Green, in western Kentucky. Just seven months later, severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides affected Eastern Kentucky. The extent of the damage across multiple counties naturally stretched the capacity of local organizations to gather information and engage communities and businesses in the recovery process.
NOVACES’ economic recovery subject matter experts researched and documented the immediate and long-term economic implications of these storm systems. Our team produced white papers and coordinated workshops for community leaders covering critical topics, including agriculture, housing recovery, workforce development, and downtown revitalization.
Challenges
During these workshops, it became evident that more in-depth exploration of key economic recovery topics and improved alignment of community planning efforts were needed. Another significant challenge emerged during the workshops: many Area Development Districts (ADDs) had fallen behind in updating their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) and Hazard Mitigation Plans. This lag created a gap in coordinated, long-term recovery planning—hindering the region’s ability to access federal resources, build resilience, and support sustainable economic growth.
Solutions Delivered
The NOVACES team addressed these challenges by:
Leading the creation of a webinar series focused on critical topics such as broadband development, tourism recovery, creative financing for small businesses, development pressures, and workforce issues.
After conducting in-depth background research on best practices and available resources, the NOVACES team developed targeted content, including worksheets on creative financing options, to ensure that each webinar provided valuable, actionable information.
Next, the team contacted each of the impacted ADDs to assess progress on updating their CEDS and Hazard Mitigation Plans. A comprehensive spreadsheet was compiled to track this progress and provided to the EDA to support coordinated planning efforts.
Key Takeaways
The webinar series offered a forum for detailed discussion on essential economic recovery topics, giving community leaders and stakeholders the insights and resources needed to drive strategic recovery planning.
The additional focus on plan synchronization helped align economic development and hazard mitigation efforts, enhancing the overall effectiveness of recovery initiatives.
By developing a tailored webinar series and facilitating cross-agency plan synchronization, NOVACES helps local leaders across sectors address evolving community needs with precision and coordination.