The National Disaster Recovery Framework introduces six new Recovery Support Functions that are led by designated federal coordinating agencies at the national level. Recovery Support Functions involve partners in the local, State and Tribal governments and private and nonprofit sectors not typically involved in emergency support functions but critically needed in disaster recovery. These new partners may include public and private organizations that have experience with permanent housing financing, economic development, advocacy for underserved populations and long-term community planning. The processes used for facilitating recovery are more flexible, context based and collaborative in approach than the task-oriented approach used during the response phase of an incident. Recovery processes should be scalable and based on demonstrated recovery needs. Each Recovery Support Function has a designated coordinating agency along with primary agencies and supporting organizations with programs relevant to the functional area. The Recovery Support Function Coordinating Agency, with the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provides leadership, coordination and oversight for that particular. When coordinating agencies are activated to lead a Recovery Support Function, primary agencies and supporting organizations are expected to be responsive to the function related communication and coordination needs. ECONOMIC Coordinating Agency: United States Department of Commerce Primary Agencies: Department of Homeland Secutiry/Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Commerce, Departmet of Labor, Small Business Administration, Department of Treasusry and Department of Agriculture Supporting Organizations: Corporation for National and Community Service, Deparment of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and Health and Human Services MISSION The mission of the Economic Recovery Support Function is to integrate the expertise of the Federal Government to help local, State and Tribal governments and the private sector sustain and/or rebuild businesses and employment, and develop economic opportunities that result in sustainable and economically resilient communities after large-scale and catastrophic incidents. FUNCTION The core recovery capability for economic recovery is the ability to return economic and business activities (including agricultural) to a state of health and develop new economic opportunities that result in a sustainable and economically viable community. Economic recovery is a critical and integral part of recovery. Disasters not only damage property, but also entire markets for goods and services. The speed and effectiveness of returning a community to self-sufficiency and vitality depend upon quickly adapting to changed market conditions, reopening businesses and/or establishing new businesses. Businesses employ workers, provide for community needs and services and generate revenue once again, allowing the community, both its members and government, to provide for itself. Considerable Federal funds are contributed to local, State and Tribal economic recovery as well as to other areas of recovery that necessarily strengthen the economy. The attraction of outside investment and the role of the private sector cannot be understated as foundational in a community’s economic recovery. Thus, the role of the Economic RSF is to facilitate and enable that role by leveraging Federal resources, information and leadership. Informed management must accompany this capital investment to ensure its most effective use and compliance with all applicable Federal laws and regulations. This involves the coordination of Federal recovery programs and their integration with private sector efforts including those of nongovernmental and private volunteer organizations, nonprofits, investment capital firms and the banking industry. The Economic Recovery Support Function facilitates the progression from direct Federal financial assistance to community self-sustainment. Importantly, the Recovery Support Function works closely with local community leadership who direct long-term economic recovery efforts. This requires the sustained engagement of possibly months or years by RSF leadership with the leadership of disaster-impacted jurisdictions. A complex undertaking, this RSF engages many entities utilizing government assistance as seed money. These actions encourage reinvestment and facilitate private-sector lending and borrowing necessary for the functioning of vital markets and economies. Effective economic recovery following a disaster is positively influenced by pre-disaster community planning including mitigation actions that increase community resilience. When coupled with informed decisions by local officials, it provides the confidence building necessary for economic recovery. PRE-DISASTER: THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY SUPPORT FUNCTION * Identifies statutory, regulatory and policy issues that contribute to gaps, inconsistencies and unmet needs in economic recovery. * Seeks innovative solutions to address preparedness, mitigation and resilience issues before a disaster strikes including comprehensive land use policy. * Appreciates the value of community and economic development planning in disaster recovery; encourages and facilitates this planning through appropriate State government agencies. * Develops initiatives and incentives to facilitate the integration of Federal efforts and resources with private capital and the business sector. * Creates, encourages and participates in local, State, Tribal and Federal disaster recovery exercises to enhance skills and develop needed techniques. * Leverages mitigation programs to create strong communities resilient to disaster. * Works with local, State and Tribal officials to implement disaster resistant building codes and incentivize business and individual pre-disaster mitigation and preparedness activities. * Seeks to promulgate resiliency policies and practices in agency programs and stakeholder operations, wherever appropriate. * Sustains pre-disaster engagement activities possibly for months or years with the leadership of jurisdictions that may be impacted by a disaster. * Encourages the establishment of disaster information networks for businesses. POST-DISASTER: THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY SUPPORT FUNCTION * When activated by the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, the primary and supporting departments and agencies deploy in support of the Economic Recovery Support Function mission. * Works to apply and integrate plans developed pre-disaster to most effectively leverage Federal resources and available programs to meet local community recovery needs while aggressively integrating with the private sector to facilitate early and productive engagement. * Develops an interagency action plan for each disaster to ensure the coordinated action of all Federal agencies, stakeholders and supporting entities in the support of local, State and Tribal governments. * Incorporates mitigation measures into redevelopment following a disaster to build the community back stronger to minimize future risk. * Building upon the relationships developed during pre-disaster planning, works closely with local community leadership during disaster recovery to provide technical assistance and data related to economic development. * Maintains robust and accessible communications throughout the recovery process between the Federal Government and all other partners to ensure ongoing dialogue and information sharing. * Engages the workforce development system, including State vocational rehabilitation programs, as a means of helping individuals who acquire a disability as part of the disaster return to work with the appropriate supports, accommodation and retraining (if necessary). OUTCOMES FOR THE ECONOMIC RCOVERY SUPPORT FUNCTION Through the coordination of local, State, Tribal and Federal government programs and the private sector, the Economic Recovery Support Function and local leadership leverages, following a disaster, community development plans and stakeholder relationships to create a new post-disaster economic condition meeting community needs. The following actions encourage reinvestment and facilitate private sector lending and borrowing necessary for the functioning of vital markets and economies. Sustained pre- and post-disaster mitigation actions create a community less at risk, strengthen future economic stability and create possible insurance benefits. Specific outcomes may include: * Workforce development initiatives are in place; jobs are created and retained. * Entrepreneurial and business development initiatives are in place. * Community-wide economic development plans are developed with broad input and consider regional economic recovery and resiliency. * Strategies for quickly adapting to changed market conditions, reopening businesses and/or establishing new businesses are in place. * Business initiatives to employ workers and generate revenue are in place. * Management plans ensure that the most effective use of Federal funds is in place. * Federal funds are withheld when discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability are present. * Private and public sector actors have information they need to make informed decisions about recovery. ### September 2011 4