Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Bethany Quinn, president of Golden Shovel Agency, explains why communities that punch above their weight concentrate their resources on one or two genuine strengths.

She and Dane discuss how specificity makes communities memorable, why economic development marketing must address local stakeholders as well as outside prospects, and how disconnected marketing projects waste money.

Bethany also shares how AI is changing website content, why FAQ pages are becoming more important, and how a single word can reshape perceptions of a community.

Most importantly, she makes the...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Mike Swesey, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, about how St. Pete has worked to become known as a business destination as well as a place with beaches, culture, and quality of life.

Mike shares lessons from recruiting companies from markets like New York and Europe, explains why responsiveness can determine whether a community even stays on a site selector’s list, and makes the case for targeting companies that genuinely fit your workforce and community.

He also di...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Andrew Sloss discusses his transition to independent consulting and the lessons he has learned from nearly two decades in site selection and incentive negotiations. He explains why an initial “no” from a community may reflect a misunderstanding, a lack of available tools, or simply bad timing, and how better communication and persistence can create new possibilities.

Andrew also shares a retention project involving a struggling retailer, including how communities used job grants, workforce funds, and university tuition benefits to help keep locations open. The conversation covers demonstrating a company’s broa...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Lavera Alexander about how the Monterey Bay region is positioning itself at the forefront of advanced air mobility.

Lavera explains how four public-use airports, aircraft manufacturers, research institutions, workforce partners, and community leaders are being brought together into a coordinated flight network designed to accelerate testing and commercialization.

The conversation explores the importance of airport infrastructure, public-private partnerships, community participation, and certification-based career pathways that can lead to high-paying jobs without requiring a four-year degree.

For economic developers, the Monterey Bay...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Liz Maxwell, chief of staff at the Idea Village, about how communities can support high-growth startups as part of a broader economic development strategy.

Liz explains what accelerators actually do, how they differ from incubators and traditional small-business programs, and why capital is often not the real bottleneck for emerging companies. They explore the four ingredients of a healthy venture ecosystem, talent, capital, customers, and access to interesting problems, and discuss how the Gulf South can build globally relevant companies around energy, manufacturing, ports, coastal...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Melissa James, founding president and CEO of REACH Central Coast, about building a regional economic development organization amid the anticipated closure of Diablo Canyon, persistent affordability challenges, and a fragmented approach to growth.

Melissa explains how the Central Coast organized around its distinctive assets in energy, space and aerospace, and high tech; set a goal of creating 15,000 good-paying jobs by 2030; and connected that strategy to workforce development and housing.

She also shares practical lessons about private-sector leadership, cross-sector coalitions, memorandums of understanding, institutional...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Damian Denmark, economic development director for the City of Yukon, Oklahoma, about what it looks like to build an economic development department in a fast-growing suburban community northwest of Oklahoma City.

Damian shares how his move to Liberal, Kansas changed the way he thinks about community, belonging, and the people-first side of economic development.

The conversation moves from rural marketing and relationship-building to Yukon’s new incentive policy, the Miller Crossing project, TIFs, sports tourism, and the increasingly complicated question of data centers. Fo...

In this episode Dane talks with Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, about Detroit’s current economic momentum and what other communities can learn from it.

Kevin explains why “comeback city” no longer fully captures Detroit’s story, how technology, manufacturing, real estate, sports, tourism, and earned media are reshaping the city’s market position, and why neighborhood commercial corridors matter to both residents and corporate decision-makers.

The conversation also digs into Motor City Match, startup investment, grocery access, DEGC’s role as a consistent economic development partner across administrations, and the need...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane talks with Janae Stark about the Community Economic Revitalization Board’s “right project, right time” approach to rural economic development, from planning and project development to infrastructure financing, construction timelines, and what happens when projects go sideways.

Janae shares how CERB works with communities and federally recognized tribes in Washington State, why trust and relationship-building matter as much as funding, and how infrastructure like buildings, roads, utilities, and rural broadband can unlock opportunity for small communities.

The conversation also explores the less visible work behind successful projec...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Michael Hecht, CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., about the deeper economic story behind a region best known for food, music, culture, and Mardi Gras.

Michael explains how New Orleans’ economy is rooted in maritime, energy, defense, aerospace, and industrial innovation, and why long-term recovery after major disruption requires sustained leadership, trust, humility, and coalition-building.

The conversation covers GNO Inc.’s approach to business environment work, the “power of powerlessness,” regional trust-building across 10 parishes, the importance of focusing resources on sectors with real strategi...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane talks with Anna Cardona, an economic development consultant with Wolves Development Group, about her path from architecture and design into economic development, her move from public and public-private work into the private sector, and the growing role of energy infrastructure in getting major projects across the finish line.

Anna explains how power availability, behind-the-meter solutions, and infrastructure capital are shaping everything from advanced manufacturing to data centers, and why communities need to rethink economic development beyond job counts and CapEx.

The conversation also covers community backlash...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Matt Mandrella, Music Officer for the City of Huntsville, Alabama, about what it means for a city government to take music seriously as an economic development strategy.

Matt explains how Huntsville’s music audit led to intentional investments in venues, programming, artist development, tourism, and workforce attraction, including the Orion Amphitheater, MidCity, Women in Music, tour grants, a central music calendar, and partnerships that help local artists and businesses grow.

The conversation shows economic developers how music can strengthen quality of life, support do...

In this episode Dane Carlson talks with Jon Roberts of TIP Strategies about his new book, The Cost of Cool: Austin's Tech Growth and the People Left Behind, and what Austin’s rise can teach economic developers everywhere.

They discuss how Austin became a tech and talent magnet, why that growth created real pressure around equity, housing, and displacement, and whether tech growth inevitably widens community divides.

Jon also explains why entrepreneurial ecosystems need more than enthusiasm, why universities and major companies matter, how communities like Green Bay and Racine County, Wisconsin are building on th...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Dr. Glenn Athey, author of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, about what economic developers actually need to know to move from strategy to delivery.

Glenn shares how growing up in northeast England during de-industrialization shaped his interest in regional economic development, why he wrote the book he wishes he had at the start of his career, and how practitioners can use international case studies without simply copying someone else’s playbook.

The conversation covers action-oriented strategies, evidence that informs decisions instead of...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Mark Williams, founder of Strategic Development Group and author of Corporate Site Selection and Economic Development: A 35 Year Perspective, about what really happens behind the scenes in site selection.

Mark shares lessons from working in state government, building a consulting firm, advising corporate clients, and writing a book that has become both a teaching tool and a business development asset.

The conversation covers why economic developers and companies often misunderstand each other, why listening matters more than overloading prospects with information, how time...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, Dane Carlson talks with Brian Abernathy of Convergent and Clint Nessmith of Resource Development Group, now RDG, a Convergent Company, about the merger of two major economic development fundraising firms and what it means for chambers, EDOs, and community organizations.

They discuss why economic development fundraising is becoming more critical, how campaigns are evolving beyond traditional jobs and investment metrics, and why organizations must make a clearer case for their value. Brian and Clint also explain how data, disciplined campaign execution, feasibility studies, and strong public-private partnerships can...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, Dane Carlson talks with Brian Abernathy of Convergent and Clint Nessmith of Resource Development Group, now RDG, a Convergent Company, about the merger of two major economic development fundraising firms and what it means for chambers, EDOs, and community organizations.

They discuss why economic development fundraising is becoming more critical, how campaigns are evolving beyond traditional jobs and investment metrics, and why organizations must make a clearer case for their value. Brian and Clint also explain how data, disciplined campaign execution, feasibility studies, and strong public-private partnerships can...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Teresa Nortillo, President of Eco Devo 360, about how economic development has evolved from a deal-focused discipline into a complex, ecosystem-driven practice. They explore how energy constraints, workforce skill gaps, and the need for rapid RFI responses are reshaping site selection, along with the growing importance of childcare, housing, and regional collaboration.

Teresa also introduces the concept of ecosystem-based cost modeling, explains why many communities struggle to implement traditional consulting plans, and shares her mission to make high-quality economic development support accessible to under-resourced communities.

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, about how Oklahoma City has built sustained economic momentum through its unique MAPS program, a voter-approved, pay-as-you-go funding model for transformational community investments.

Christy explains how decades of strategic spending on quality of place, infrastructure, and people have reshaped the city’s trajectory, enabled major wins like hosting Olympic events, and strengthened key industries such as aerospace, energy, and life sciences.

The conversation also explores the power of business leadership engagement, the gr...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with David Parker of the Bermuda Business Development Agency about how a small island became a global powerhouse in reinsurance and is now strategically diversifying its economy.

David explains Bermuda’s unique “triangle” of government, regulator, and private sector alignment, the role of regulatory innovation like sandboxes, and how the agency targets the right companies using data and intelligence.

The conversation explores investment attraction, high-net-worth migration programs, and why Bermuda focuses less on competing broadly and more on being the obvious choice for specific indust...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Tim Hanigan, CEO of the Aberdeen Development Corporation in Aberdeen, South Dakota, about how a rural community of 30,000 punches above its weight in economic development.

Tim explains how Aberdeen leverages entrepreneurship, regional workforce draw, and value-added agriculture to build one of the most diverse micropolitan economies in the U.S. The conversation dives into practical tools like revolving loan funds, shovel-ready site development, and tight-knit community coordination, along with lessons learned from winning and losing projects.

Tim also shares how rural economic developers...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals.

Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller.

The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Lyndsay Wisneski, Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, about how storytelling and modern marketing strategies can transform economic development. Lyndsay shares how Yuma built a powerful regional brand through industry-focused mini-documentaries, digital advertising campaigns, and a coordinated content strategy that turns a single video project into years of marketing assets. She explains how even small communities can market themselves effectively by highlighting local companies, repurposing content across platforms, and tracking real marketing ROI. The conversation explores why economic development should focus less on...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Eric Voyles, Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Development Officer for TexAmericas Center, about how a former 8,900-acre military installation became one of the most innovative redevelopment authorities in the country. Eric explains how eliminating public review delays, investing millions in environmental cleanup, controlling rail and logistics assets, and focusing relentlessly on speed to occupancy have allowed TexAmericas Center to compete for heavy and light manufacturing projects.

From creative risk-taking with early-stage companies to clearing 250-acre rail-served sites after losing a deal, this conversation is...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Director of Economic Development for Pima County, Arizona, to explore how one of the largest counties in the country balances rural biodiversity, cross-border trade with Mexico, aerospace and optics clusters, semiconductor workforce development, and even controversial data center projects.

Heath shares how a four-and-a-half-person team coordinates across municipalities, tribal nations, academia, and public health to execute a regional strategy that blends quantitative results with qualitative community engagement.

From a $1.2 billion battery manufacturing project to evolving policies on nondisclosure agreements and...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Lisa Hurley, Executive Director of the York County Development Corporation in Nebraska, to talk about what modern rural economic development actually looks like on the ground.

Lisa shares how York County leverages its logistics position, diversified employers, and growing civic pride while navigating workforce shortages, childcare capacity, housing pressure, and community resistance to change. They discuss talent attraction campaigns, podcasting as an economic development tool, and why rural EDOs must now think far beyond traditional business recruitment.

The conversation also explores leadership...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market.

Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way.

The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, co...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Juliet Abdel, President and CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, to talk about building a regionally focused, globally minded economic development organization.

Drawing on Cedar Rapids' "fifth season" advantage (time, accessibility, and quality of life) Juliet shares how the region leverages industry clusters, international relationships, and leadership discipline to compete.

The conversation blends practical economic development strategy with candid insights on burnout, boundaries, and leading people well in a demanding field.

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In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Mike Kamerlander, President and CEO of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership, to discuss what economic development looks like inside one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas.

Drawing from HCEDP’s recent Economic Outlook Event, the conversation explores why Central Texas continues to attract companies, how cities, counties, and private businesses are investing through uncertainty, and what shifting project timelines signal for 2026. Mike also shares lessons from leading a two-county, ten-city partnership, why “no product, no project” still holds true, and how speed, predic...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Jessica Huble, Assistant Director of Redevelopment for the City of Sugar Land, Texas, to explore how a landlocked, master-planned suburb is rethinking growth, housing, and economic sustainability. The conversation dives into Sugar Land’s unique history as a company town built around Imperial Sugar, the creation of a dedicated Department of Redevelopment, and why single-family housing alone cannot support a city’s long-term finances.

Jessica explains how community engagement, honest trade-off conversations, flexible planning, and city-led redevelopment of the historic Imperial site are shaping Suga...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson talks with Joya Stetson, Community Development Director at the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), about how transit directly shapes workforce access, development costs, and long-term community competitiveness.

Joya unpacks “first mile/last mile” barriers and how tools like microtransit and service tweaks can turn missed connections into real outcomes, including route changes that unlocked student internships and boosted ridership.

They dig into suburban realities like coverage vs. ridership, post-COVID recovery, and why transit belongs inside RFP workforce narratives, land-use planning, and even parking requirement conv...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with John Loyack of the North Carolina Community College System to unpack what “workforce development” looks like when you’re the person who gets the call the day after the ribbon cutting asking where the next 500–5,000 workers will come from—and how North Carolina answers that question through four major tools: NC Edge customized training, ApprenticeshipNC, the Bio Network (now stretching from life sciences into food/beverage and natural products), and a small business center network embedded across 58 community colleges, all while pushing for tighter collaboration so employe...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Timothy Comerford of Biggins Lacey & Shapiro about the rapidly shifting reality of power availability in site selection.

Tim explains how explosive demand from data centers and industrial users is overwhelming electric utilities, reshaping incentive policy, and lengthening timelines for securing capacity. He breaks down the biggest misconceptions around power lead times, why transmission is often the bottleneck, how utilities are adapting with costly engineering studies and take-or-pay requirements, and what steps EDOs must take to credibly position their sites.

This is a masterclass...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, about how Colorado Springs is uniting its region to compete globally, building on its deep aerospace, defense, and cybersecurity assets, and expanding advanced manufacturing powered by a steady military-to-civilian talent pipeline.

She explains the origin of the Colorado Aerospace and Defense Economic Council, the importance of advocacy for small and mid-sized contractors, how site selection really plays out in a mountain market, and why economic development still matters most at the level...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with economic development veteran and consultant Marty Vanags about Circles of Seven, a peer-based mentoring program designed to strengthen post-startup small businesses who often fall through the cracks of traditional support systems.

Marty explains how C7 groups work, why small businesses learn best from each other, and how these circles create long-lasting bonds that improve BRE, build confidence, and ultimately make communities more attractive to prospects. He also touches on Next Wave Leadership, the importance of in-person connection, and why economic developers should spend more time...

On this special crossover episode, Dane Carlson joins Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast to talk about Sitehunt, entrepreneurship, and the power of AI to help rural and small-community economic developers compete at scale.

In this episode of Rural Strong, Joe and Dane explore how AI tools like Sitehunt automate site analysis, RFI responses, and data collection — giving small EDOs the same analytical firepower as their big-city counterparts. Dane shares his unlikely journey from early-2000s internet entrepreneur to chamber president in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Texas economic-development director to startup CEO. They discuss why fe...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Candi Clouse from IMPLAN joins Dane Carlson to unpack how the fifty-year-old economic-impact platform grew from a U.S. Forest Service project into the industry’s gold standard for analyzing how local and regional economies respond to change. She explains the basics of input-output modeling, how opening a single manufacturing plant can affect hundreds of related industries and household spending, and describes how IMPLAN empowers users to measure those effects in real time.

Candi also shares her personal journey from psychology to economic development, the surprising ripple effects of Oh...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson shares his talk from the Utility Economic Development Association’s 2025 Fall Forum in Traverse City, Michigan. He explains how artificial intelligence is transforming economic development from a guessing game into a data-driven discipline. Drawing from his work with Sitehunt, Dane reveals how utilities can turn raw infrastructure data like power, water, sewer, and fiber into actionable intelligence that accelerates projects, shortens RFI responses, and drives smarter investment decisions. He challenges listeners to stop optimizing for Google and start optimizing for AI, showing how even small steps like making on...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Joe Rudemiller, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), about how the organization helped turn Over-the-Rhine from a crime-ridden, disinvested neighborhood into one of America’s most celebrated urban communities.

Joe shares how strategic partnerships with the corporate sector, catalytic public spaces, historic preservation, and mission-driven development created a vibrant, mixed-income district filled with local businesses and active civic life.

He also discusses how programming, special improvement districts, and community initiatives like GeneroCity 513 and fair-chance hiring continue to...

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Kat Guillaume-Delemar, President and CEO of the Center for Community Progress, the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated to fixing the systems that lead to widespread vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties. Kat shares how systemic vacancy harms communities — from lowering property values and public health to blocking economic opportunity — and explains how policy reform, land banking, and innovative programs can restore vitality and equity to disinvested neighborhoods. Drawing from her deeply personal journey from poverty and trauma to leadership and advocacy, Kat offers inspiring insights and actionable strategies for ec...