Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with April Mason, president and founder of Violet PR, a boutique public relations agency specializing in economic development. April explains the difference between earned and paid media, sharing how editorial coverage can be worth five to seven times more valuable than advertising because of its inherent credibility. The conversation covers newsjacking techniques, where PR professionals quickly tie current news events to their clients' stories, and explores how economic development PR differs from consumer-focused campaigns by focusing on business trends, tax incentives, and workforce development rather than lifestyle content. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Monitor news headlines daily and hold weekly team meetings to identify PR opportunities Focus on earning editorial coverage rather than paying for advertisements for 5-7x better credibility Develop a newsjacking strategy to quickly tie breaking news to your organization's strengths Pitch thought leadership articles to trade publications in your industry Create redundant systems or unique selling points that can become newsworthy angles Build relationships with journalists who cover economic development and business topics Develop spokespeople who can provide expert commentary on industry trends Differentiate your PR approach from consumer marketing by focusing on business fundamentals Leverage client successes and unique infrastructure as story angles Maintain a proactive media relations strategy rather than waiting for news to happen Special Guest: April Mason.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.Links:Top Boutique PR Firm Rebrands: We Write the Future | Violet PRViolet PR | Boutique Public Relations Agency for Economic Development

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson interviews Sophia Zheng, Founder and CEO of Bludot Technologies, a startup initially incubated through a unique collaboration with a city’s economic development department. Sophia explains how Bludot’s innovative platform helps more than 150 communities across the U.S. and Canada retain and expand local businesses through advanced data analytics and digital incentives. She dives into the successful Open Rewards program, a community-wide shop-local initiative, and explores how technologies like AI could further enhance business retention and expansion strategies. Sophia also highlights Bludot’s achievements, including recognition in Govtech 100 and AWS GovtechStart, as well as USDA NIFA grants for supporting rural economic development. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Consider launching digital reward programs to incentivize local spending. Centralize your local business data for effective business retention strategies. Leverage consumer data to tailor shop-local campaigns to specific areas or seasons. Minimize barriers for businesses to participate in city-sponsored programs. Regularly evaluate and track consumer behaviors to measure the impact of your initiatives. Use qualitative consumer feedback to validate program effectiveness. Collaborate with local chambers, business districts, and main streets for increased program reach. Explore targeted incentives to revitalize specific economic zones. Integrate technology-driven solutions to streamline business support and retention processes. Continuously innovate engagement tactics to keep consumers excited and actively shopping locally. Special Guest: Sophia Zheng.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.Links:Sophia Zheng | LinkedInBludot | Business Retention & Economic DevelopmentBlog | Bludot Economic Development PlatformCity Beat: Rewards For Local Shoppers In Las Vegas - YouTubeBludot Technologies Inc.: Posts | LinkedIn

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show (a replay from EDO Breakthrough Podcast episode #10), Sandy Dubay interviews Dane Carlson about his entrepreneurial journey in economic development. Dane shares the deeply personal story behind starting his podcast during COVID while his son underwent cancer treatment, his initial nervousness about hearing his own voice, and his strategy of cold-contacting newly certified economic developers for guests. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face with changing leadership and boards, before diving into Dane's innovative solution: Sitehunt, an AI-powered platform that transforms how economic developers respond to RFIs by automatically matching community assets with project requirements and generating detailed responses in minutes rather than days. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! To reach Franklin for his podcast editing services, email franklin.carlson@icloud.com.Special Guest: Sandy Dubay.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.Links:SitehuntEDO Breakthrough E10 – Expediting the RFI Process, with Dane Carlson — Expediting the RFI Process, with Dane CarlsonDane Carlson | LinkedIn

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, who has led the organization's transformation efforts for 25 years. Kucharski shares how Buffalo evolved from being the 8th largest U.S. city in 1960 to experiencing devastating industrial decline, and then orchestrating a remarkable comeback that includes the first population growth in decades. He discusses the region's competitive advantages including clean hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls, the 43 North business plan competition (the largest in the country with $1 million prizes), and securing the nation's only semiconductor tech hub designation. The conversation covers Buffalo's evolution into a hub for manufacturing, life sciences, and technology, while addressing new challenges like housing shortages that come with rapid growth and success. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Tom Kucharski.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.Links:Tom Kucharski | LinkedInInvest Buffalo Niagara | Grow your Business in Buffalo NiagaraWhy Move to Buffalo? Hear from Those Who Have! - YouTube3/22: Tom Kucharski - HUNT Real Estate Corporation Blog

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Barry Broome, President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. Dane and Barry explore Sacramento's remarkable economic transformation. Barry highlights how Sacramento has leveraged its strategic location 72 miles east of San Francisco to become one of America's premier second-tier markets, emerging as a semiconductor hub while diversifying into clean tech and agricultural research sectors. Throughout the conversation, Barry shares his data-driven approach to economic development, his passion for working with underdog cities, and the challenges he overcame to build community trust and create a thriving economic ecosystem in California's capital region. Barry shares insights on economic development, leadership, and the importance of data-driven decisions in driving regional growth. The episode also covers his personal background, emphasizing Barry's passion for economic development in underdog cities and his experiences in navigating and overcoming initial challenges to build a thriving community. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:20 Discovering Sacramento 02:40 Sacramento's Economic Growth 04:40 Semiconductor Hub Vision 09:44 Infrastructure and Utilities 11:41 Target Sectors Beyond Semiconductors 14:08 Barry Broome's Journey 21:16 Challenges and Achievements 25:20 Building a Strong Board 29:05 Barry's Background and Philosophy 34:55 Conclusion and Contact Information Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Leverage your geographic proximity to major economic centers; Sacramento's 72-mile distance from San Francisco became a strategic advantage rather than a limitation. Diversify your economic base beyond traditional anchors; Sacramento moved beyond government dependence to semiconductors, clean tech, and agricultural research. Position your community as a second-tier market alternative to expensive primary markets, offering similar talent and infrastructure at better cost basis. Use data-driven decision making to guide your economic development strategy and demonstrate measurable results to stakeholders. Build strong board governance early; invest time in assembling committed leaders who can provide stability and strategic direction. Target emerging sectors where your region has natural advantages; Sacramento capitalized on its research universities and proximity to Silicon Valley for semiconductor development. Develop compelling narratives around your community's diversity and quality of life as competitive advantages for business attraction. Address infrastructure and utilities proactively as foundational elements for sector-specific development strategies. Embrace your role as an "underdog city champion"; sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are in communities others overlook. Focus on long-term relationship building and community trust, understanding that transformational economic development takes years to achieve and sustain. Special Guest: Barry Broome.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.Links:Barry Broome | LinkedInHome - Greater Sac Economic CouncilThe Way We Work: Barry Broome | Comstock's magazineCalifornia 2030: Greater Sacramento Economic Council President Barry Broome - YouTubeTeam - Greater Sac Economic CouncilThe Semiconductor Industry's Dynamic Nature and Continuous Evolution | NasdaqNews & events - Greater Sac Economic Council

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Jonathan Knecht, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Creative Services at the Kansas City Area Development Council, who reveals how his team markets the greater Kansas City region to attract business investment and talent. Jonathan, a self-described "refugee from advertising" who's been with the organization for 21 years, discusses their collaborative approach to regional branding centered around the iconic KC Heart logo, their focus on key industry sectors like digital health and sports architecture, and how Kansas City's central location, affordability, and quality of life create competitive advantages. He also shares insights on building consensus across state lines and how their in-house creative agency supports economic development efforts throughout the region. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Consider adopting organically popular community symbols rather than creating new brands from scratch to ensure authenticity and community buy-in. Build collaborative relationships across political boundaries to present a unified front when pursuing major projects and investments. Leverage your region's unique industry clusters (like KC's sports architecture) to create compelling specialization stories for targeted marketing. Create an in-house creative agency to support marketing needs across your region, especially for partners with limited budgets. Develop talent attraction initiatives like KC's "Team KC" that connect employers and equip them with shared marketing resources. Create specialized content for different audiences, such as belonging guides for various cultural communities, to support talent recruitment efforts. Focus on tracking meaningful metrics tied to actual business attraction and expansion results rather than just marketing activities. Identify and promote quality of life advantages such as central location, cost of living, and cultural amenities as competitive differentiators. Establish sector-specific initiatives (like KC's Digital Health and Animal Health Corridor) to target industries where your region has competitive advantages. End counter-productive incentive competitions between neighboring communities to better focus resources on attracting new businesses to the region. Special Guest: Jonathan Knecht.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.Links:Jonathan Knecht | LinkedInKansas City Area Development Council | HomeKC Heartland | FacebookKansas City Area Development Council | LinkedInKCADC (@ithinkKC) / XKC Area Development Council on VimeoKC Area Development Council (@ithinkkc) • Instagram photos and videos

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Deb Brown, co-founder of Save Your Town and author of "From Possibilities to Reality: How to Save Your Small Town." They discuss Brown's workbook-style approach to small town economic development, sharing practical examples of community revitalization, including movie theater revitalization as an economic driver. Brown offers insights on addressing resistance to change by exploring what people truly valued about their towns in the past, and provides actionable strategies for community members who want to make a difference in their small towns. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Implement the "idea friendly method" to bypass traditional committee bureaucracy and mobilize community-driven economic development projects. Organize "Tour of Empty Buildings" events to showcase vacant commercial spaces and connect potential business owners with available properties. Focus on attracting and supporting local businesses to expand into empty downtown spaces rather than solely pursuing large outside employers. Create accessible maps and resources that showcase available commercial properties to potential investors and entrepreneurs. Engage residents outside the "usual suspects" (city officials, chamber members) by hosting informal idea-gathering sessions at local coffee shops or breweries. When communities resist change, dig into what they specifically valued about the past to identify the core needs that modern solutions can address. Develop sustainable business models for community assets (like movie theaters) that create real employment rather than relying exclusively on volunteers. Establish clear pathways from idea generation to implementation that don't require formal committee formation or extensive bureaucratic processes. Prioritize filling downtown vacancies with businesses that serve current community needs while preserving historical character. Leverage success stories from similar small towns as proof-of-concept examples when pitching new development ideas to stakeholders and building owners. Special Guest: Deb Brown.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.Links:Debra Brown | LinkedInSaveYour.Town – Practical steps to shape a better future for your community, small town, rural or local neighborhoodBuyTheBook - Building PossibilityFrom Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories: LuluFrom Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories by Deb BrownBuilding Possibility - FacebookMentions Library - Deb Brown | Building PossibilityAbout - Deb Brown | Building Possibility

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Aaron Pitts, Chief Commercial Officer for Business PA, who shares how Pennsylvania is revitalizing its economic development approach under Governor Shapiro's administration. Aaron explains the creation of Business PA, a dedicated unit within the Department of Community and Economic Development focused exclusively on building and maintaining business relationships. He details Pennsylvania's strategic advantages as a founding state with major cities, rural areas, and world-class educational institutions like UPenn and Carnegie Mellon, while highlighting their focus on five key sectors: life sciences, manufacturing, energy, AI/tech, and business services. Listeners learn about Pennsylvania's impressive $500 million investment in site development, streamlined permitting processes that reduced business license waits from eight weeks to two days, and how Pittsburgh has emerged as a global AI leader with companies like Google, Nvidia, and Duolingo. Aaron also shares insights from his previous experience helping create JobsOhio and explains why leaving corporate America for economic development has been so personally fulfilling. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Create dedicated units focused solely on business relationships within your economic development organization to ensure businesses receive specialized attention. Invest significantly in site readiness programs with dedicated funding to create shovel-ready locations that can immediately accommodate business relocations. Implement a concierge service for permitting to help businesses navigate regulatory processes more efficiently and combat negative perceptions about permitting complexity. Identify and focus on 4-5 key sectors where your region has competitive advantages rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Build regional partnerships with clear roles and responsibilities for business retention, expansion and attraction activities to present a unified front to prospective companies. Bring corporate experience into economic development leadership to better understand and speak the language of business executives. Develop a strategy that balances care for incumbent businesses while positioning your region to attract cutting-edge industries. Create a disciplined financial model to evaluate incentive offers that ensures both the business and the region benefit from each deal. Leverage educational institutions as key partners in workforce development and innovation to create distinct advantages in specific sectors. Foster an attitudinal shift within economic development organizations from reactive to proactive engagement with businesses to demonstrate that you genuinely care about their success. Special Guest: Aaron Pitts.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.Links:Business in Pennsylvania | PA DCEDPennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development: Posts | LinkedInPennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development | FacebookPA DCED - YouTube — PA DCEDAaron Pitts | LinkedIn

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Victor Hoskins, President and CEO of Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, who oversees Virginia's largest economy and leads a team that has secured approximately $3 billion in capital investment. Victor shares insights from his unique career spanning both public and private sectors, including his instrumental role in securing Amazon HQ2 during his time at Arlington Economic Development. With candid reflections on his education at MIT, experience in private equity, and passion for creating economic opportunity, Victor reveals his philosophy that has helped companies create over 38,000 jobs in Fairfax County – a place he describes as "where companies come to dent the universe." Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Victor Hoskins.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.Links:Victor Hoskins | LinkedInFFX NOVA BusinessThe Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton M. Christensen

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with David Fleming, president and CEO of Rev Birmingham, about transforming Birmingham from an industrial city into a thriving service economy centered around healthcare and education. Fleming discusses how his organization fosters downtown vibrancy by preserving historic character, supporting local businesses that "make the city cool," ensuring economic and racial diversity, and collaborating with various municipal authorities to create a downtown that attracts over 30 million annual visitors while maintaining its unique identity. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Focus on supporting local businesses that give your city a unique character and "make the city cool." Create incentives that help historic redevelopment while still allowing for new growth. Work in partnership with various city authorities (parking, transit, housing) to align development goals. Develop housing incentives that encourage economic diversity, not just luxury developments. Measure downtown success by evening vibrancy and residential activity, not just daytime business metrics. Recognize the importance of maintaining racial and economic diversity in downtown development plans. Position anchor institutions like healthcare and universities as catalysts for urban revitalization. Balance the needs of various stakeholders: residents, workers, and visitors. Create development tools that preserve local character while encouraging economic growth. Focus on making downtown a destination with diverse attractions that can draw millions of visitors annually. Special Guest: David Fleming.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.Links:REV Birmingham is creating vibrant placesDowntown BirminghamDavid Fleming | LinkedInREV Birmingham (@revbham) • InstagramREV Birmingham - FacebookREV Birmingham: Overview | LinkedInDowntown Birmingham (@downtownbhm) • InstagramDowntown BHM - FacebookDowntown Birmingham: Overview | LinkedInDowntowns will evolve and survive - Birmingham Business JournalDo Business - Downtown BirminghamThe Death and Life of Great American Cities (50th Anniversary Edition) by Jane Jacobs