Retailed as a Strategic Catalyst for Economic Development
The current post-pandemic reality has completely upended traditional thinking about the role of retail in economic development. Millennials and Gen Z workers no longer choose their hometowns based only on jobs - they choose the place they want to live first and then find jobs. Remote workers can choose to live anywhere and are no longer tethered to an office location. Attracting today's workforce requires a vibrant retail and restaurant base, so while retail may not be the primary economic driver for a community, it is certainly a critical catalyst. Guest presenter Lacy Beasly, president of Retail Strategies, will look at how economic developers can adapt their growth strategies to this new retail landscape.