Session 1: Local economy

Local economy: acting early on slow-moving change

Many local economic challenges do not appear as sudden crises. They unfold quietly: talent leaves, city centres lose everyday life, new forms of work reshape neighbourhoods, and inequalities widen. This session is for city practitioners aiming to act earlier and more deliberately on these slow-moving changes. Drawing on the experience of six URBACT Action Planning Networks— C4TALENT, Cities@Heart, Residents of the future, Cities After Dark, Remote-IT, TechDiversity— the session explores how cities are rethinking local economic development in practice. Participants will gain concrete insights into people-centred, place-based and governance-driven approaches that focus on everyday users rather than short-term promotion or attraction.