Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development 161: Unlocking the Power of Tertiary Markets with Dr. Ronda Sauget
Feb 17, 2025
35:00
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dr. Ronda Sauget, President and CEO of Coles Together, discusses the unique advantages of tertiary markets in economic development. She explores how smaller communities like Coles County, Illinois are attracting businesses through stable workforces, easier business processes, and strong infrastructure, while sharing her journey from the Federal Reserve to leading economic development in a thriving micropolitan area.
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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
- Take fresh looks at existing assets - they might be more valuable than you think
- Focus on building complete ecosystems including housing, childcare, and healthcare
- Leverage your location's unique advantages in infrastructure and connectivity
- Develop strong workforce pipelines through youth apprenticeships
- Create strategic plans that align all community assets
- Build relationships with both large and small businesses
- Focus on quick turnaround times for business requests
- Highlight quality of life advantages for workforce attraction
- Develop strong public-private partnerships
- Invest in sustainable infrastructure like green energy for long-term growth
Special Guest: Dr. Ronda Sauget.
Sponsored By:
- Sitehunt: Sitehunt is an AI-enhanced platform that helps economic developers build a comprehensive property database, enabling informed decisions and efficient RFI responses to accelerate site selection and project success.
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