Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the creation of Resilient Louisiana, a state commission charged with examining Louisiana's economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic and making recommendations for more resilient business-related activities and commerce in the coming months.
The commission will include a task force structure dedicated to strengthening specific sectors of Louisiana's economy. Task forces will be focused on solutions for critical sectors, including strategies for making regions and communities more resilient in the face of future health care threats and other risks. Several DDD Commission members are on the task force.
The first meetings were held on April 22. Recordings of these meetings and more information on goals and members can be found here.
The White House has also released guidelines for 'Opening Up America Again' which offers a three phased approach for reopening the economy. The guidelines propose gating criteria for entering each phase. The plan details what to expect during each stage, including the types of activities that may resume and what precautions should be taken.
State and local officials will tailor the application of these criteria to local circumstances (e.g., metropolitan areas that have suffered severe COVID outbreaks, rural and suburban areas where outbreaks have not occurred or have been mild). Additionally, where appropriate, Governors will work on a regional basis to satisfy these criteria and to progress through the phases outlined.
The DDD is closely monitoring both State and Federal discussions in regards to the phased approach, and planning appropriate initiatives for each phase. Though we have not yet entered Phase One, as restrictions loosen, different types of programmatic opportunities and support activities will be conducted. A downtown specific committee is being assembled to assist in identifying ways to help jump start the downtown economy. Sign-up to keep appraised of these activities.
More information can be found on our COVID-19 Business and Community Resources webpage. We encourage you to continue utilizing the downtown parks and pathways, and support the restaurants that are still serving. More information can be found at the links below.
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