Report represents six months of collaboration among regional institutions representing government, industry, academia and community.
WASHINGTON, DC –– DEC. 8, 2020
While Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas are home to some of the most affluent Americans, it is also home to some of the nation’s poorest. The latter population is growing and could be feeling the impacts of COVID-19 for years to come, a possibility Connected DMV hopes to moderate by sharing its latest report, The COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force Summary Report.
Created by Connected DMV’s COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force – a collaboration of leaders and experts from the public and private sectors across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia – the Task Force Summary Report details specific Phase 1 initiatives to increase regional resiliency and enable equitable economic growth in the area’s post-COVID world.
“The impact of this public health crisis made it clear that we’re not doing enough to protect our most vulnerable populations from hardship and the effects of poverty,” said Stu Solomon, President and CEO of Connected DMV. “By delivering specific initiatives to systematically improve regional deficiencies, we can create a better region that reflects the talents and assets with which we’ve been blessed, and ultimately emerge from this crisis stronger and more resilient than before.”
Regional deficiencies in healthcare, food availability, transportation, water supply, clean energy, housing, education, the workforce, finances, technology, and innovation are areas of focus for the Task Force in 2020 and 2021. The Task Force’s 51 members – which consist of a mix of commercial, academic, government, and community leaders – brought their diverse backgrounds, insights, and experiences together in May 2020 to build out a unified approach for economic renewal and social equity that would benefit the entire region.
“This Task Force reflects our diverse region and represents the wide variety of people and needs of Greater Washington,” said Solomon. “This is our chance to address issues that have held us back for decades. Now that these resources and great minds are working together, I’m confident we can prevail.”
The COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force Summary Report includes recommendations for shaping a stronger, more responsible economy and creating a foundation for regional success through forward-looking infrastructure, integrated resilience planning, and strategic economic development practices. The list of twelve approved initiatives includes:
Regional Economic Development Strategy
Regional Resilience Exercises
Safe Environments: Accelerated Pilots
DMV Flexible Work & Recovery Agreement
Coordinated Contact Tracing
Connectivity for All
Global Pandemic Prevention & Biodefense Center
Potomac Quantum Innovation Center
Regional Cybersecurity Initiative
Regional Data Protection
Regional Initiative Funding Committee
Regional Index for Economic Renewal & Social Equity
“These recommendations and the strategy behind them are more than a vision. They constitute the starting elements of a plan and a path forward for Greater Washington to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic as a stronger and more unified region. We welcome the opportunity to execute on this vision,” said Solomon.