This video is a discussion between regional leaders in the public and private sector as they highlight the need for resilient infrastructure solutions across geographies and infrastructure modes, touching on topics from broadband to smart buildings.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the fiscal circumstances of many regions and communities recognized the necessity of high-speed broadband as an element of infrastructure. This conversation from the Milken Institute's Global Conference between cross-sector leaders focuses on pathways to 21st century infrastructure solutions that can help distressed communities across the United States.

Participants in this video recommend that, as the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the necessity of high-speed broadband in homes and businesses to adapt to the socially distanced reality of the moment, state and local leaders should establish resilient infrastructure development goals. This conversation is about the need to establish governance frameworks that support investment strategies using innovative finance tools.

The Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities (BPC) Index provides a means to compare metropolitan areas’ performance in terms of investment and policy choices. This 2021 version emphasizes jobs, wages, and high-technology growth, while also measuring housing affordability and household broadband access.

A report that compares the rankings of nearly 400 metropolitan areas across the United States on the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities (BPC) Index and the GoDaddy Venture Forward (VF) rankings of microbusiness density to better understand the economic opportunity landscape in the country. Properly understanding the value of economic assets and increased microbusiness density may allow communities to enhance their existing growth trajectory and create new opportunities.