About the show

We explore 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.

Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development on social media

Episodes

  • 114: Economic Gardening: Nurturing Local Businesses for Community Growth with Chris Gibbons

    October 23rd, 2023  |  33 mins 11 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development

    Chris Gibbons, creator of the economic gardening concept, explains how he pioneered the idea in Littleton, Colorado in the 1980s to help local companies create jobs after major layoffs. Economic gardening focuses on providing research and insights to growing stage two companies, not basic business assistance. Gibbons discusses the sales window concept they use to efficiently find the best prospects, and their move into leveraging AI like ChatGPT. He also shares his passion for helping communities and people prosper through economic development.

  •

    113: Encore: The Secrets of Economic Development with Novelist and Econ Dev Don Erwin

    October 16th, 2023  |  43 mins 52 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development

    Author Don Erwin discusses his economic development thriller novel "Buffalo Hunting in Alabama" in this encore episode from September 2021.

  •

    112: Encore: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing with Ilana Preuss

    October 9th, 2023  |  37 mins 51 secs
    downtown, econdev, economic development, made in, main street, manufacturing

    In this episode, Dane speaks with Ilana Preuss, author of Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing. (Originally aired June 2021)

  •

    111: The Great Outdoors as an Economic Engine with Noah Wilson and Bradley Spiegel

    October 2nd, 2023  |  39 mins 38 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development, recreation

    Noah Wilson and Bradley Spiegel discuss the outdoor recreation economy in Western North Carolina, including the annual Outdoor Economy Conference and Building Outdoor Communities program.

  •

    110: Counting What Counts: A Data-Backed Path to Community Revival with Jon Maynard

    September 25th, 2023  |  30 mins 30 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development, local

    A longtime economic developer discusses his people-first approach to growing local economies based on caring about the community and using data to guide strategic decisions.

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    109: Recruiting the Best Economic Developers with Anthony Michelic

    September 18th, 2023  |  33 mins 18 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development, executive recruiting

    Dane interviews Anthony Michelic, President of The Pace Group, from inside and old bank vault. The executive recruiting firm discusses the job market, hiring trends, and advice for economic developers and job seekers in the industry.

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    108: Seeding Entrepreneurial Ecosystems With Beth Zimmer

    September 11th, 2023  |  31 mins 44 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development, ecosystem, entrepreneurship

    A program manager discusses building entrepreneurial ecosystems nationally to support business startups and economic growth through collaboration, education, and culture change.

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    107: Meet Joe Collins: The First Subscriber to the Econ Dev Show

    September 4th, 2023  |  26 mins 57 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development, municipal utilities, networking, relationship building

    Dane surprises his first subscriber.

  •

    106: The First Month in the ED Director's Chair with Jamie Beasley

    August 28th, 2023  |  23 mins 28 secs
    careerchange, eco devo, econdev, economic development, ruralecondev, strategicdoing, virtualassistants

    Jamie Beasley discusses her first month as a new economic development director in rural Oklahoma after switching careers from virtual assistance.

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    105: Fusing Memes, AI, and Economic Development in Georgia With Ben McDaniel

    August 21st, 2023  |  22 mins 16 secs
    ai, ai in community engagement, barrow county georgia, ben mcdaniel, eco devo, econdev, economic development, innovative marketing techniques, marketing strategies, memes, memes in advertising

    Economic developer Ben McDaniel discusses using memes and AI to market his community of Barrow County, Georgia.

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    104: Nurturing the Next Generation: Dr. Chad Miller's Vision for Economic Development's Future

    August 14th, 2023  |  29 mins 20 secs
    eco devo, econdev, economic development

    Join Dane Carlson and Dr. Chad Miller as they explore the shifting paradigms of economic development, emphasizing the blend of art and science within the profession. Dive into reshoring trends, the growing emphasis on tech skills and community development, and the pivotal role of academic-industry collaboration in shaping the future of econ dev.

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    103: Zen and the Art of Rural Economic Development with Sean Adkins

    August 7th, 2023  |  22 mins 45 secs
    childcare facilities, community needs, community resistance, compromise, east coast states, eco devo, econdev, economic development, hospitality industry, housing issues, interview, local government, motorcycle maintenance, perspective, public service, regulations, rural economic development, small towns, town manager, vermont, virginia, workforce challenges, zen philosophy

    Sean Adkins discusses his diverse economic development career spanning rural Virginia and Vermont, including an unexpectedly central role in launching a childcare facility.