The uneven distribution of American prosperity becomes starkly evident when examining the resilience of our infrastructure and communities. The term "resilience" spans various sectors such as infrastructure, energy, water, agriculture, healthcare, and financial systems. However, defining and investing in resilience poses significant policy and political challenges due to the complexities of present-day calculations and the lack of immediate political rewards. Despite these challenges, investing in communities vulnerable to natural disasters and underinsurance through municipal bonds offers a strategic approach to address immediate financial needs and long-term benefits.

We make the case for resilience through municipal bonds as part of a resilient action plan for state and local governments in this Community Finance Brief as part of a Summer series on resilience leading up to Fall workshops on resilience, local governments and public-private partnerships.