21 Hats Podcast Dashboard: Want More Domestic Manufacturing? Think Small
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Nov 21, 2025 Ilana Preuss, Founder and CEO of Recast City, advocates for revitalizing local economies through small-scale manufacturing. She argues that instead of chasing large corporations, communities should focus on their own local manufacturers. By listening to the needs of these businesses, towns can fill vacant storefronts and create rooted jobs. Preuss shares success stories like a shared kitchen in Columbia, Missouri, and emphasizes the importance of tailored support and responsive local policies to foster growth in product-based businesses.
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Small Manufacturers Are Everywhere
- Small-scale manufacturing (1–50 employees) exists across every community and spans from artisanal goods to advanced manufacturing.
- Ilana Preuss argues these businesses can root jobs locally and revitalize Main Streets without large relocations.
Columbia’s Shared Kitchen Success
- Recast City helped Columbia, Missouri discover home-based food businesses lacked a commercial kitchen.
- The city partnered with the university to open a shared kitchen that now serves dozens of businesses.
Fix Practical Infrastructure First
- Identify specific infrastructure gaps and respond with targeted projects, like shared commercial kitchens.
- Use quick wins to build momentum and then scale successful facilities based on demand.
