From Economic Drain to Economic Engine

Welcome to Relocalizing Health, where we dig into the powerful connection between healthcare and community prosperity. In this episode, host Dave Chase explores a hidden economic struggle affecting towns across America, one where healthcare dollars can either drain local economies or become the engine that revitalizes them. Dave shares compelling stories, like how a reimagined approach to healthcare in Tangelo Park, Florida, helped fund college for every child and reduced crime dramatically, while unchecked hospital expansion elsewhere continues to burden families for generations.

This episode shines a light on why traditional strategies to attract jobs may be less effective than transforming local healthcare ecosystems, highlighting real-life examples from Ohio to Alabama where communities have redirected wasted healthcare spending into scholarships, community programs, and job growth. Through cooperatives, innovative employers, and local leadership, Dave reveals a playbook for reclaiming healthcare dollars and harnessing them to rebuild the social and economic fabric of our communities.

Whether you’re an employer, teacher, community leader, or local advocate, Dave empowers you with ideas and tools to help your community thrive, reminding us all that the future of healthcare and local prosperity is in our hands. Join us as we explore real solutions already working across the country, and find out how you can be part of this growing movement to relocalize health.

Timestamps:

00:00 Healthcare Drains Local Economies

05:11 Rethinking Hospital-Centric Economic Development

09:47 "Community Focus in Transparent Healthcare"

13:03 Community Wealth Through Cooperatives

14:48 Localizing Healthcare for Economic Growth

15:44 Rosetta Fest

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/