Entrepreneurs and startups are at the heart of this economic dynamism, but since the Great Recession, entrepreneurs have struggled to find access to capital to start new businesses at the same rates as before, and the startup rate has been sluggish, with more firms failing than launching each year in most metro areas. Notably in 2018, on net the economy added no additional firms for the first time in our nation’s history.

The pandemic has forced attention on the shortcomings of our nation’s safety net, creating opportunities to reimagine and strengthen that system as policymakers focus on rethinking and rebuilding our economy.

State and city governments have long been working on making public transit more accessible and building a system that gets residents where they need to go without burdensome delays, transfers, or high fares.

The pandemic brought with it a pivot to virtual work and school wherever possible, and access to quality broadband has never been more essential to American life than it is now.

With more than 12 million children under the age of 5 in some form of child care across the country, and around 1.5 million Americans directly employed in the child care profession, child care is essential to America’s economy and future prosperity.

Prior to the pandemic, the United States was already dealing with significant housing issues, including high rents, unattainable housing prices, and a lack of housing stock.

America has rarely encountered such challenging circumstances as the country faces today, amid a once-in-a century public health emergency that has caused economic devastation for millions of people while touching every aspect of society.