Recovery = Restore + Resiliency + Renewal + Transformation
MAY 5, 2020 – SERIES 4 OF 6
Renewal involves moving beyond just restoring the economy but accelerating it to go beyond the status quo. For rural America, there is an opportunity for renewal of regions that have struggled recovering from the globalization of jobs and the great recession of 2008.
Two of the most promising areas for renewal in U.S. underserved regions following the COVID-19 pandemic are developing affordable high-speed internet networks and using the technology to expand healthcare through telemedicine.
It will take both public and private investment to make this happen. In Mississippi, innovation and a public/private partnership are being used to provide successful COVID-19 testing. In October 2019, prior to the pandemic, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and C Spire, the largest privately held wireless company in the U.S. headquartered in Mississippi, partnered to launch a telehealth program utilizing a free app. Fortuitously, this collaboration enabled UMMC to expedite free COVID-19 screening through a wireless network throughout the state. Using a video call and screening, free tested was provided as needed, at one of 10 remote sites throughout the state.
As the economic recovery begins, this innovative platform provides experience to users, medical providers and broadband technicians that will lead to improving healthcare delivery. It will even change consumer behavior, providing a comfort to users utilizing telemedicine in the future.
Telemedicine and remote working will require uncanny collaboration and committed resources moving forward. As we are looking for stimulus, these renewal opportunities can provide possible strategic economic development possibilities. Look for creative solutions driven by regional demands to accelerate renewal strategies.
Here are a few articles on the renewal process:
- Ahead of the Curve: How to make rural America a priority during COVID-19
- See which states are reopening and which states are still shut down
Gray Swoope
President & CEO
VisionFirst Advisors
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