Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Business Retention And Expansion”

240: Small Town, Big Tech with Victoria Archuleta

Dane Carlson — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:15:00 -0500

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Victoria Archuleta, Senior Economic Development Director for the Village of Los Lunas, New Mexico, about what happens when a small community starts attracting some very big companies.

Located just south of Albuquerque, Los Lunas has grown from a quiet bedroom community into an industrial powerhouse, with major investments from Meta, Amazon, and companies working in advanced technology and energy. Victoria shares how the village is managing that growth, why its first economic development strategic plan was a game changer, and how infrastructure limitations, particularly electricity and transportation, can make or break major projects.

They also discuss the importance of building on a community's existing strengths, engaging residents in economic development decisions, supporting local businesses, and balancing industrial expansion with small-town character.

It's a conversation about punching above your weight, planning for the growth you want, and discovering that sometimes the biggest obstacle to economic development isn't attracting companies. It's having the infrastructure ready when they arrive.

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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Build your strategy around what makes your community different.

Los Lunas benefits from New Mexico's longstanding strengths in scientific research, military installations, and advanced technology. Identify the assets, institutions, industries, and geographic advantages that distinguish your community, then target businesses that need those particular strengths rather than chasing every emerging industry.

2. Make infrastructure readiness part of your recruitment strategy.

Los Lunas has reached the finalist stage on major projects only to lose opportunities because electricity couldn't be delivered quickly enough. Work directly with electric, gas, water, and wastewater providers to understand current capacity, expansion costs, and realistic delivery timelines before a prospect comes calling.

3. Create a strategic plan that actually influences decisions.

Los Lunas recently adopted its first economic development strategic plan, a 119-page document developed with Better City. It identifies specific targets, including aerospace, defense technologies, health and biosciences, and logistics. Use strategic planning to prioritize industries, infrastructure investments, and economic development activities over the next five to ten years.

4. Don't underestimate how much your community wants to participate.

Los Lunas received nearly 600 responses to its strategic planning survey and held three town halls, including a community visioning workshop. Invite residents, business owners, and people living in surrounding unincorporated areas into the process. Their priorities may differ from yours, but those concerns can reveal important barriers to growth.

5. Treat transportation as an economic development issue.

Traffic emerged as one of the biggest concerns during Los Lunas's strategic planning process. The village is pursuing a major interchange and bridge project to improve connectivity. Coordinate with public works and transportation officials so that road capacity, commuting patterns, and freight access are considered alongside industrial recruitment.

6. Look for the next generation of businesses your existing employers can attract.

Meta's presence has created opportunities for Los Lunas to pursue related suppliers and supply-chain businesses. Pacific Fusion's component manufacturing operation presents another opportunity to build on the regional technology ecosystem. Map the suppliers, service providers, and complementary industries associated with your existing employers, then use those relationships to develop new recruitment targets.

7. Connect major employers with small, locally owned businesses.

Victoria describes how Meta orders dozens of donuts from a local bakery, illustrating how major employers can support smaller businesses throughout a community. Help local companies identify procurement opportunities with large employers, encourage local purchasing relationships, and make sure economic development benefits extend beyond the industrial park.

8. Educate residents about what economic development does—and doesn't—control.

Residents frequently ask Victoria to bring retailers such as Chick-fil-A and Whataburger to Los Lunas. She uses those conversations to explain the distinction between industrial economic development and retail growth driven by population and market demand. Clearly communicate your organization's responsibilities, priorities, and limitations so that residents understand what you're working to accomplish.

9. Strengthen regional partnerships and workforce pipelines.

Los Lunas works with the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance and benefits from proximity to institutions including the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College, and New Mexico Tech. Develop strong relationships with regional economic development partners and educational institutions to support employer recruitment, workforce preparation, and emerging industry opportunities.

10. Don't let business attraction overshadow retention and expansion.

Meta's continued expansion in Los Lunas demonstrates the value of maintaining relationships with existing employers. Victoria emphasizes that economic development isn't just about attracting companies; it's also about retaining, developing, and supporting businesses of every size. Make regular employer conversations, expansion support, and attention to existing business needs part of your economic development work.

Special Guest: Victoria Archuleta.

226: Economic Development Is a Relationship Game with Damian Denmark

Dane Carlson — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Damian Denmark, economic development director for the City of Yukon, Oklahoma, about what it looks like to build an economic development department in a fast-growing suburban community northwest of Oklahoma City.

Damian shares how his move to Liberal, Kansas changed the way he thinks about community, belonging, and the people-first side of economic development.

The conversation moves from rural marketing and relationship-building to Yukon’s new incentive policy, the Miller Crossing project, TIFs, sports tourism, and the increasingly complicated question of data centers. For economic developers, this episode is a reminder that projects matter, but trust, policy, infrastructure, and community buy-in are what make growth work.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

Build the relationship before you need the deal. Damian’s approach is clear: trust opens doors with property owners, developers, tenant reps, brokers, city departments, and regional partners.
Create policy before the pressure hits. Yukon’s work on incentive and economic development policies gave the city a framework for handling projects, negotiations, and community expectations.
Treat residents as part of the project equation. Especially in communities reliant on sales tax, residents need to see why a project matters and how it benefits the place they live, work, and raise families.
Use incentives to create community value, not just close deals. Yukon’s requirements around chamber membership, public art, city services, and community impact show how development agreements can ask more from projects.
Do the infrastructure homework early. For data centers and other major projects, water, power, utilities, noise, and capacity questions need to be understood before promises are made.
Do not reduce data centers to job counts. Damian notes that a data center may bring only 20 to 25 jobs, but the broader financial and infrastructure deal can still matter if negotiated well.
Know what your community can realistically support. Economic developers should understand market capacity, utility capacity, resident concerns, and policy constraints before pursuing major industrial or technology projects.
Move quickly, but do not confuse speed with sloppiness. Yukon’s Miller Crossing TIF moved in less than 60 days, but Damian also emphasized the stress, negotiation, and policy work behind that speed.
Let personal experience shape professional practice. Damian’s time in Liberal, Kansas changed how he thinks about belonging, service, and the human side of economic development.
Remember that buildings do not build communities by themselves. Projects, investment, and development matter, but the strongest communities are built through people, trust, participation, and shared pride.

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Special Guest: Damien Denmark.

67: How to Build a Business Accelerator in Your Small Town With Jana Sanchez

Dane Carlson — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:15:00 -0500

If you want to see BR&E program that consists of more than just being a connector of information and contacts for your businesses, this is the episode for you.

In tis episode, Jana Sanchez walks us through the ins and outs of the Business Accelerator Services of Estes (BASE) Program at the Estes Park EDC. The BASE Program is a 6-month intensive dive into building and growing your business, helping leaders in three core areas - Leadership, Operations, and Innovation.

According to Jana, existing businesses need executive education in order to grow and expand. This should be an essential function of your business retention and expansion programs.

Her accelerator is comprehensive executive education that is helping her mountain tourist town's businesses to expand. But not just that – her program can show positive , concrete results that help the EDC be better understood in the community, and raise more money.

The episode is full of great insights, and success stories from Estes Park.

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Special Guest: Jana Sanchez.