

Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development
Dane Carlson
Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 5, 2022 • 24min
63: Building Startup Accelerators with John Lynn
As economic developers, we can be guilty of deciding what our community should be and then telling everyone to get busy.
According to John Lynn with cela Innovation, another model is to create and provide the tools necessary for our communities to figure out where they see opportunities in the market and then support them as they develop profitable solutions. Regional startup accelerators can fulfill that role and help our communities develop post-pandemic resilient economies.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: John Lynn.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:CelaWestchester County Office of Economic Development Partners with Powerful Accelerator Developer, Cela Innovation, to Convert Element 46 into a Vibrant Tech AcceleratorHere's How to Get Your Startup Into Accelerator Element 46

Aug 29, 2022 • 29min
62: This Economic Developer Absolutely Loves Her Small Town with Amanda Beadles
Amanda Beadles absolutely loves the small town of Chillicothe, Illinois. That's good because she's their local economic developer, and small town econ dev can be difficult without the right mental attitude.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Amanda Beadles.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:The City of ChillicotheIn the Spotlight - Amanda Beadles How a cozy Illinois town rejuvenated its unsightly downtown buildings — Two decades later, how Chillicothe's TIF district has revitalized the city's downtown: However, the town's taxing bodies didn't agree on an extension for another four years.As Chillicothe TIF district expires, economic leaders look back at its impactChillicothe businesses are seeing improvements, renovations thanks to TIF fundsTriple Dipple's Treats and DelicaciesAmanda Beadles | LinkedInCity of Chillicothe Economic Development

Aug 22, 2022 • 23min
61: Marketing America's Most Promising Places with Amanda Ellis
Dane talks with Amanda Ellis, Editor in Chief of Livability.com, about marketing your community for economic development and talent attraction. Amanda hosts the Inside America’s Best Cities podcast, writes the Let’s Talk Talent newsletter.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Amanda Ellis.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:Livability.comLivability MediaBest Places to Live in the US in 2022 RankedLivability Media Whitepapers — Research on American relocation habitsLivability's Let's Talk Talent Monthly NewsletterInside America’s Best Cities Podcast

Aug 15, 2022 • 46min
60: Passionate Economic Development in Massachusetts with Paul DiGiuseppe
Paul DiGiuseppe still considers himself a newcomer to economic development, but Paul has an incredible, contagious, passion for the industry.
Now the Director of Economic and Community Development at the Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts, he started in the industry four years ago, in a different small town, with no experience in economic development, but with 25 years of city planning in a variety of cities across the county.
About a year and a half into his job, he realized that he didn't understand and know enough about econ dev.
And then COVID hit.
He was totally unprepared and wasn't ready to help his local businesses struggling to keep their doors open.
While receiving COVID funding information from the state and feds, he had no good way of communicating with his businesses. This kept him up at night.
Finally, with the help of many people both inside the town and out, as well as podcasts, websites, books, etc., he grew to better understand his role in economic development.
As a result, today, he's more focused than ever. He spends his days connecting with his business community and doing business attraction.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Paul DiGiuseppe.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:Paul DiGiuseppe | LinkedInEconomic & Community Development | Middleborough, MAMiddleborough Business Resource CenterMiddleborough, MA... We Mean Business!Market Analysis & Business District Assessment: Downtown MiddleboroughMiddleborough On The MoveCranberry Country Chamber of Commerce

Aug 8, 2022 • 8min
59: Your First 90 Days with Paul DiGiuseppe
In this short snippet of an episode Dane talks with Paul DiGiuseppe, who explains what to do in your first 90 days on the job.
Paul is the is the Director of Economic and Community Development at Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts.
This is part one of Dane's conversation with Paul.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Paul DiGiuseppe.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:Paul DiGiuseppe on LinkedInThe First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

Aug 1, 2022 • 18min
58: War Stories with J.R. Charles
This is part two of conversation with J.R. Charles.
In this episode, J.R. shares his incredible war story and explains the nobility of the economic development profession.
J.R. explains:
One of my biggest projects came when I was informed about a looming bankruptcy for one of our manufactuers (I'd like to keep the companies anonymous). Rather than let the company liquidate, I worked with the facility's manager to identify another company which bought out that insolvent manufacturer. The new company acquired the insolvent company on Feb 14, 2020 (we called it the best Valentine's present our community could recieve), and one month later, COVID hit and my wife and I welcomed our son into the world.
I worked with the new company's corporate and legal team via weekly zoom meetings to negotiate the incentive deal; at the same time, I kept our elected officials informed as they were dealing with quarantine protocols, face mask orders, and public health initiatives.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: J.R. Charles.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Jul 25, 2022 • 26min
57: You Gotta Network to Get Work with J.R. Charles
In this episode, we play the first part of a conversation between Dane and J.R. Charles, the Community Development Director for the City of Mauldin, South Carolina.
In their wide-ranging conversation, J.R. explains how to best take advantage of memberships in state and regional associations.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: J.R. Charles.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:City of MauldinJ.R. Charles | LinkedInJ.R. Charles' Resume / Portfolio

Jul 11, 2022 • 32min
56: Failure Generates Growth with Beka Burton
Beka Burton recently failed her CEcD exam, and she's here to talk about it. She doesn't think about it as failing. She just found a way that didn't work.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Beka Burton.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:I Recently Failed...CEDIK - Community and Economic Development Initiative of KentuckyBeka Burton | LinkedIn

Jul 5, 2022 • 30min
55: Economic Development in Suburban Chicago with Kevin Leighty
Dane talks with Kevin Leighty, Economic Development Director in the Village of Oswego, Illinois.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Kevin Leighty.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:Economic Development Commission | Village of Oswego, IllinoisKevin R. Leighty | LinkedInNew Economic Development Director Hired For Village Of Oswego | Oswego, IL Patch

Jun 27, 2022 • 32min
54: How to Change Your Community's Perception of Itself with Steve Griffin
In this episode, Dane talks with Steve Griffin of Finger Lakes EDC.
Steve's rural New York community has gone from a sleepy little community to leading their metro region by percentage growth in nearly every single economic category in the last 15 years. Here's how he did it.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Steve Griffin.Sponsored By:Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.Links:Finger Lakes EDCSteve Griffin | LinkedInFLEDC on BBC World Business Report — Starts at about 1 minuteSteve does a monthly interview on a local radio station — Here's a recent clip.Steve Griffin Discusses Economic Development in Yates & FLX .::. Sunday Conversation 3/24/19 - YouTube