ARENI Webinar: Building Resilience in Small University Towns

Metro21 attended the ARENI webinar, "Building Resilience in Small University Towns" on June 1, 2022 to learn how universities can help build resilience in topics including long lasting infrastructure, connecting to broader economic opportunities and more.

The discussion focused on ways universities have factored into economic resilience, with speakers mentioning that universities open doors to off-campus entities and different universities are able to work together to create more entrepreneurship and growth in the region.  

Key takeaways include:

• Universities help support small businesses
• Universities have embraced entrepreneurship in a way that benefits the local communities
• The ability of the university and state institutions to balance academic and practical approaches could be a challenge
• Intellectual capital that comes from universities, while extrememly useful, is also a challenge given the energy changes every time cohorts graduate and new initiatives are mentioned
• It is important to ensure there is no coordination gap and that efforts are made to retain alumni and proactively help them pursue their business ideas as they move forward
• Seven tactics and approaches towards resilience from the Small Cities Resilience Project include:
  • Diversifying business & industry
  • Building long-lasting infrastructure
  • Human capital development
  • Connection to broader economic opportunities
  • Leveraging local champions
  • Fostering social capital
  • Increased focus on equity