Promoting Economic Resilience (Research)

Using lessons from successful communities to guide future growth

Credit: Lakeshia Knarr

Problem

How can Appalachian counties be economically resilient in the face of waning coal production?

Between 2005 and 2015, coal production across the thirteen states in the region fell by nearly 45 percent.
With a 27 percent drop in coal industry employment, nearly half of the 420 counties in the region are economically distressed or at risk.

Findings

Rural sociologists examined the relationship between a county's resilience ranking and variables associated with resilience, such as broadband availability, natural amenities, and the number of resident college graduates. Researchers identified seven common strategies adopted by counties with higher resilience scores.

Researchers used McKean County, Pennsylvania, as a case study of a declining community that rebounded after the 2008 recession.

Impact

By identifying the resilience-promoting factors, the team's findings will help other communities select strategies and policies to enhance their own future economic prospects.

As a partner with other counties under a cohesive marketing network, the Pennsylvania Wilds–McKean now benefits from a collaborative rather than competitive strategy in a crowded tourism marketplace.

Related Research Area: Community Resilience and Capacity

Research Credit

Team

Stephan Goetz, Yicheol Han, Fritz Boettner, Evan Fedorko, Evan Hansen, Christine Gyovai, Emily Carlson, Alexandria Sentilles, Alan Collins, and Brianne Zimmerman

Participating Departments

Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education

Partners

Appalachian Regional Commission, Downstream Strategies of West Virginia, Dialogue + Design Associates of Virginia, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development at Penn State, and West Virginia University

Competitive Funding

Appalachian Regional Commission Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization

Federal and State Appropriations

Project PEN04633 and USDA NIFA Accession #1014522

Emerging Discoveries

Promoting economic resilience in Appalachia: Lessons from successful communities

March 22, 2019

The Appalachian communities that enjoyed persistent economic growth following the 2008 Great Recession have a number of factors in common, according to researchers who analyzed all 420 counties in the Appalachian region. Their findings will help guide future economic development strategies across Appalachia.