Cape May County engaged ESI to assess its economic conditions in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and develop a data-driven economic recovery and resiliency plan. The county sought a strategic framework grounded in current economic data to guide near- and long-term planning decisions to enhance workforce development, business support, and regional competitiveness.
ESI compiled data from the American Community Survey spanning a five-year period from 2015 through 2019 to establish pre-pandemic baseline conditions for Cape May County and the broader South Jersey region. As pandemic-era data became available in early 2020, ESI incorporated monthly updates through the first half of 2021 to capture the trajectory of economic disruption and early recovery. The team assessed changes in workforce, demographics, and business activity from 2010 through 2019 to identify structural trends preceding the pandemic. These findings were integrated into a the development of a forward-looking strategy.
ESI produced an economic recovery and resiliency plan for Cape May County, including a comprehensive situation analysis and forward-looking strategic recommendations. The plan provided the County with a comprehensive assessment of economic conditions, layering pandemic-specific shocks layered on longer-term demographic and workforce trends. A set of strategic recommendations were advanced to guide recovery and improve long-term regional competitiveness. The analysis informed near-term stabilization priorities and longer-term positioning strategies for the Cape May County economy.
