From “mom and pops” to “pop-ups”: Local development and the future of retail

WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

Retail is an important part of local economic fabrics and helps give vitality and character to local communities. For some places, it is a significant part of local employment and tax bases, but these bases are being eroded. The pandemic has changed the fabric of many downtowns as a result of remote work. Simultaneously, many retailers are struggling because of e-commerce or just need to find new approaches to market their goods and services in order to survive. This webinar will address local development strategies for making local retail corridors, main streets and high streets thrive in these new realities.    

Opening: Ambassador Jack Markell, U.S. Representative to the OECD

Moderator: Jeff Finkle, International expert on local economic development

This webinar is part of a series of events to mark the 40th anniversary of the OECD Local Employment and Economic Development (LEED) Programme, including reflecting on the lessons learned from the past 40 years of the local development, and the direction that needs be taken for the future. LEED was created in 1982, when OECD governments were struggling to provide solutions to the jobs crisis of the day and saw a need for an international forum to share innovative approaches to local job creation, social inclusion and economic development. Since then, it has continued to bring together policy makers and practitioners from around the world to identify, evaluate and disseminate promising approaches to local development.