Louisville - 100 Resilient Cities

Louisville’s Resilience Story

Set along the Ohio River, Louisville is a city rich in history and an exemplar of the values that define the American Midwest. However, economic growth has not benefited all residents equally, and inequality is increasing. From pollution to inadequate infrastructure, disadvantaged populations face difficult challenges, leading to poor health outcomes and diminished economic opportunities. The city recognizes that thoughtful planning is needed to improve existing conditions and prevent future burdens from being placed unevenly on already suffering populations.

Louisville is at high risk for negative impacts from a heat wave because of significant urban heat island (UHI) effects, and has been identified as among the most rapidly warming cities in the country. A major heat wave could cause dozens of deaths, increase medical costs for vulnerable populations, and increase utility expenses for all citizens. To address this growing challenge, the city is developing a UHI mitigation plan in conjunction with Georgia Tech.

SHOCKS AND STRESSES

Aging Infrastructure
Blizzard
Economic Inequality
Extreme Heat
Inadequate Public Transportation Systems
Infrastructure Failure
Poor Air Quality
Rainfall Flooding

Meet The Chief Resilience Officer

Eric Friedlander is the Chief Resilience Officer of Louisville, Kentucky.

He has over 30 years of experience leading and managing large, complex governmental organizations in challenging and politically charged environments.

Previously, he led and managed the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Kentucky and transformation of Kentucky’s healthcare delivery environment. He has also led and managed numerous program implementations on a variety of scales and timeframes in the areas of health, education and human services.

Friedlander has extensive experience in all aspects of governmental processes; including budgetary, regulatory, contractual, procurement and personnel processes. In addition, he is a seasoned executive branch liaison with the legislative branch of state government, and other major public policy stakeholders.