What Rural Economic Development Really Looks Like in 2026 with Lisa Hurley

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Lisa Hurley, Executive Director of the York County Development Corporation in Nebraska, to talk about what modern rural economic development actually looks like on the ground. Lisa shares how York County leverages its logistics position, diversified employers, and growing civic pride while navigating workforce shortages, childcare capacity, housing pressure, and community resistance to change. They discuss talent attraction campaigns, podcasting as an economic development tool, and why rural EDOs must now think far beyond traditional business recruitment. The conversation also explores leadership, burnout, mentoring the next generation of economic developers, and how Lisa is using AI to save time while staying human where it matters most.

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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Treat childcare capacity as core economic infrastructure, not a side issue
2. Invest in talent marketing even when results are hard to attribute directly
3. Use layered messaging across state, local, and employer campaigns
4. Build trust by proactively sharing progress and visuals with the community
5. Accept that some resistance to change cannot be resolved, only managed
6. Partner aggressively to avoid owning every initiative yourself
7. Use podcasts and storytelling to humanize your community and organization
8. Leverage AI for HR, editing, and admin work to protect business-facing time
9. Mentor younger economic developers to reduce burnout and build continuity
10. Remember that stopping a bad project can be a win, not a failure

• York County Dev. Corp.: Promote & Encourage Economic Growth
• Lisa Hurley | LinkedIn
• Why York County: 30 Years Strong — Building What’s Next
• YCDC Debuts Talent Attraction Videos from “The Good Life Is Calling” Grant
• YCDC Podcast