The SRPEDD Regional Resilience Plan (SRRP)

For detailed information about this flagship resilience project, please see Section E of this document.

Strengths

• Strong regional universities, colleges, and community colleges

• Cities and large towns with growing and increasingly more diverse and educated populations

• Incredible coastlines, rivers, natural resources, and recreation

Weaknesses

• We have higher unemployment

• Despite gains, our workforce development efforts are not keeping pace with competitors and the modern economy

• Modern infrastructure investments – especially in ports, water, sewer, and broadband – are still required for more growth

• Our businesses and residents remain subject to fluctuations in utility rate.

Opportunities

• Our region is strategically located to build on its existing Marine Science and Technology clusters and become the center of New England’s off-shore wind industry

• Improved educational attainment can be advanced through strategic workforce development that is tailored to the “biotech” manufacturing, MST-based, and health care industries

Threats

• Climate change, sea level rise, and increased storm events

• Unforeseen economic and social disruptions, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic

• An aging population with increasing need for social services