Community Economic Resilience (CER)

Building Communities That Can Withstand, Adapt, and Recover

Communities today face an increasing range of disruptions, from natural disasters and public health emergencies to economic shocks, workforce shortages, infrastructure failures, and major industry changes. While these events cannot always be prevented, communities can strengthen their ability to prepare for uncertainty, adapt to change, recover more quickly, and emerge stronger than before.

Community Economic Resilience (CER) is a core course designed for economic development practitioners and community leaders who play a role in preparing for disruption and supporting economic recovery. Built around EDA's Six-Factor Community Resilience Framework, the course explores the interconnected roles of Emergency Management Planning and Capacity, Natural and Cultural Resources, Health and Social Services, Infrastructure, Housing, and Economy.

Participants will learn practical tools and strategies to assess vulnerability, strengthen organizational and community preparedness, support business continuity, coordinate recovery efforts, conduct economic impact assessments, establish Business Recovery Centres, and advance long-term resilience planning. The course also examines the role of diversification, entrepreneurship, workforce development, investment attraction, and strategic reinvestment in building stronger local economies.

Whether responding to a wildfire, flood, employer closure, public health crisis, or other disruption, participants will gain the knowledge and confidence to help businesses and communities prepare for uncertainty, recover more effectively, and build long-term resilience.

This is a core course within our Community Economic Development Certificate Program.

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EDA Member

Non-Member

COURSE OUTCOMES

Explain the Six-Factor Community Resilience Framework and the role of economic development within each stage of the resilience cycle.
Distinguish between economic growth and economic resilience and understand why both are important for long-term prosperity.
Identify and assess community vulnerabilities, including chronic stressors, acute shocks, economic concentration risks, workforce challenges, infrastructure gaps, and housing pressures.
Recognize the economic impacts of natural disasters, public health emergencies, technological disruptions, employer closures, and other economic shocks.
Conduct or support economic impact assessments that inform recovery priorities, advocacy efforts, and resource allocation decisions.
Understand how chronic stressors and acute shocks interact to influence community resilience and recovery outcomes.
Build organizational and community capacity through continuity planning, stakeholder partnerships, emergency preparedness, and business readiness initiatives.
Support local businesses before, during, and after disruptions through Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E), business continuity planning, recovery programs, and financing tools.

Establish and operate Business Recovery Centres and coordinate recovery resources for affected businesses and organizations.
Develop effective crisis communication strategies that support businesses, stakeholders, elected officials, media, and the public.
Navigate provincial and federal recovery programs and connect businesses to available support and financing opportunities.
Understand the role of diversification, entrepreneurship, workforce development, investment attraction, and strategic reinvestment in building long-term resilience.
Develop and implement Community Resilience Plans that integrate resilience thinking into everyday economic development practice.
Strengthen partnerships with emergency management, Indigenous communities, businesses, governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to support coordinated recovery efforts.
Apply resilience principles to support stronger, more adaptable, and more competitive communities over the long term.

Delivery Option & Cost

Individual

Online, self-directed learning. Available 24-7.

$195 Members $295 Non-Members

Group

Hybrid- Online:

Self-directed, augmented with live instructor sessions

$325 Members $435 Non-Members

In person:

Group session in your community. One day instructor-led online workshop.

$2950 Members $3450 Non-Members