A strong local economy and engaged community life create the stability, resources, and opportunities needed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from both sudden disruptions and long-term stresses. Balancing economic growth with the protection of natural resources ensures that progress today does not undermine the foundations of tomorrow.
We partner with communities to identify economic strengths, resource gaps, and ongoing pressures—such as limited job options, service access, or changing market conditions. Working with Boise State faculty and students, we co-develop projects that strengthen local businesses, improve essential services, and build the social networks that help communities adapt.
By connecting economic vitality with environmental stewardship and community well-being, we help ensure that growth is both sustainable and inclusive, positioning communities to meet challenges with creativity, resilience, and shared purpose.
Example Projects:
- Assessing Rural Resilience
- Idaho Landscape Scan
- Valley County Resilience Webtool
- Economic Valuation of the Greenbelt
HRCI Pillars
Built Environment Natural Environment Health & Well-being
The HCRI research pillars capture the interconnection between and amongst disciplines, highlighting the dynamic and multifaceted nature of community resilience. Our goal in promoting these pillars is the foster connections and collaborations between disciplines and across sectors.
Natural Environment
The health of our plance, natural resources natural hazards, risk, risk education, and climate change.
Economy and Society
Economic and social conditions that (1) allow communities to prepare for, respond to and recover form adverse natural events and economic shocks, and (2) foster thriving, healthy communities.
Built Environment
Reliability and strength of critical infrastructure (communications, power grid, buildings built to hazard code), and systems faciliators or inhibitors to improve or build stronger infrastructure (e.g., capital, policy).
Health and Well-being
Environmental and social conditions that foster healthy thriving communities.