web01.fireside.fm Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:46:57 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Community Leadership” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/community%20leadership Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600 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. en-us episodic Actionable economic development strategies and stories 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. no econ dev, economic development, ed Dane Carlson show@econdevshow.com 162: Mountain Town Meets Hurricane Helene with Spencer Bost https://podcast.econdevshow.com/162 5f34c32b-6455-41f0-bc1c-206aa849b70d Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 162 Mountain Town Meets Hurricane Helene with Spencer Bost full Dane Carlson Spencer Bost shares how Spruce Pine, a unique Appalachian town known, is recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene 29:31 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Spencer Bost, Executive Director of Downtown Spruce Pine, takes us through the dramatic transformation of his organization following Hurricane Helene's devastation. From managing their annual blacksmith festival and facade grant programs in this mountain town of 2,000 residents, to suddenly facing eight-foot flood waters that destroyed businesses, including his own office, Bost reveals how the community responded to this natural disaster while maintaining their position as a crucial global source of high-purity quartz. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways: Develop flexible organizational structures that can pivot during crises Create emergency communication systems that work without power Maintain detailed documentation of pre-disaster conditions Build relationships with emergency management teams before disasters Plan for both small-scale events and large-scale disasters Keep important documents and equipment above potential flood levels Develop evacuation routes that consider topography Create crisis management plans that protect both people and assets Maintain relationships with regional and state economic development partners Balance immediate disaster response with long-term economic planning Spencer's Favorite Book: Sand County Almanac (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0345345053/?tag=econdevshow-20) by Aldo Leopold is my most influential book because it beautifully connects the dots between the natural world and the human experience, particularly in rural areas. As an outdoor lover, Leopold's deep respect for ecosystems inspires a sense of stewardship. From a rural economy standpoint, his philosophy of land ethic emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the communities that depend on it. It’s a powerful reminder that conservation and economic development can coexist when rooted in a genuine appreciation for the land. Special Guest: Spencer Bost. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Hurricane Helene, downtown flooding, high-purity quartz, Appalachian development, disaster recovery, small town resilience, economic transformation, downtown revitalization, emergency response, community leadership In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Spencer Bost, Executive Director of Downtown Spruce Pine, takes us through the dramatic transformation of his organization following Hurricane Helene's devastation. From managing their annual blacksmith festival and facade grant programs in this mountain town of 2,000 residents, to suddenly facing eight-foot flood waters that destroyed businesses, including his own office, Bost reveals how the community responded to this natural disaster while maintaining their position as a crucial global source of high-purity quartz.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Actionable Takeaways:

  • Develop flexible organizational structures that can pivot during crises
  • Create emergency communication systems that work without power
  • Maintain detailed documentation of pre-disaster conditions
  • Build relationships with emergency management teams before disasters
  • Plan for both small-scale events and large-scale disasters
  • Keep important documents and equipment above potential flood levels
  • Develop evacuation routes that consider topography
  • Create crisis management plans that protect both people and assets
  • Maintain relationships with regional and state economic development partners
  • Balance immediate disaster response with long-term economic planning

Spencer's Favorite Book:

Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is my most influential book because it beautifully connects the dots between the natural world and the human experience, particularly in rural areas. As an outdoor lover, Leopold's deep respect for ecosystems inspires a sense of stewardship. From a rural economy standpoint, his philosophy of land ethic emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the communities that depend on it. It’s a powerful reminder that conservation and economic development can coexist when rooted in a genuine appreciation for the land.

Special Guest: Spencer Bost.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Spencer Bost, Executive Director of Downtown Spruce Pine, takes us through the dramatic transformation of his organization following Hurricane Helene's devastation. From managing their annual blacksmith festival and facade grant programs in this mountain town of 2,000 residents, to suddenly facing eight-foot flood waters that destroyed businesses, including his own office, Bost reveals how the community responded to this natural disaster while maintaining their position as a crucial global source of high-purity quartz.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Actionable Takeaways:

  • Develop flexible organizational structures that can pivot during crises
  • Create emergency communication systems that work without power
  • Maintain detailed documentation of pre-disaster conditions
  • Build relationships with emergency management teams before disasters
  • Plan for both small-scale events and large-scale disasters
  • Keep important documents and equipment above potential flood levels
  • Develop evacuation routes that consider topography
  • Create crisis management plans that protect both people and assets
  • Maintain relationships with regional and state economic development partners
  • Balance immediate disaster response with long-term economic planning

Spencer's Favorite Book:

Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is my most influential book because it beautifully connects the dots between the natural world and the human experience, particularly in rural areas. As an outdoor lover, Leopold's deep respect for ecosystems inspires a sense of stewardship. From a rural economy standpoint, his philosophy of land ethic emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the communities that depend on it. It’s a powerful reminder that conservation and economic development can coexist when rooted in a genuine appreciation for the land.

Special Guest: Spencer Bost.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 159: Breaking the Poverty Cycle with Mary Cacioppi https://podcast.econdevshow.com/159 0d3d25f7-a6ae-4232-b257-3649bb5957f0 Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 159 Breaking the Poverty Cycle with Mary Cacioppi full Dane Carlson Mary Cacioppi, founder/CEO of Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois and national consultant for aha! Process, shares how poverty reduction strategies are essential for creating economic development that benefits everyone. 29:58 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Mary Cacioppi brings her 22 years of combined experience in community development, economic development, and poverty reduction to discuss her groundbreaking approach to economic development. As the founder/CEO of Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois and a national consultant for aha! Process, Mary explains how understanding the root causes of poverty and implementing strategic poverty reduction initiatives can transform communities and create sustainable economic growth across a five-county area. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Start using the term "attainable housing" instead of "affordable housing" to reduce stigma and increase acceptance Conduct a community risk assessment to identify key areas needing attention Evaluate your community's commitment to poverty reduction using the TRE Institute assessment tool Create systems for tracking and measuring the utilization of community services Build collaborative frameworks with other community organizations to avoid duplicate services Reframe poverty reduction conversations as "upward mobility" when working with elected officials Assess which community programs are underutilized and need better promotion Develop strategic plans that integrate poverty reduction with economic development Focus on creating system-wide changes rather than isolated programs Engage business community leaders in poverty reduction conversations Special Guest: Mary Cacioppi. poverty reduction, upward mobility, attainable housing, community development, economic development, system change, grant funding, community leadership, strategic planning, intergenerational poverty In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Mary Cacioppi brings her 22 years of combined experience in community development, economic development, and poverty reduction to discuss her groundbreaking approach to economic development. As the founder/CEO of Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois and a national consultant for aha! Process, Mary explains how understanding the root causes of poverty and implementing strategic poverty reduction initiatives can transform communities and create sustainable economic growth across a five-county area.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Start using the term "attainable housing" instead of "affordable housing" to reduce stigma and increase acceptance
  2. Conduct a community risk assessment to identify key areas needing attention
  3. Evaluate your community's commitment to poverty reduction using the TRE Institute assessment tool
  4. Create systems for tracking and measuring the utilization of community services
  5. Build collaborative frameworks with other community organizations to avoid duplicate services
  6. Reframe poverty reduction conversations as "upward mobility" when working with elected officials
  7. Assess which community programs are underutilized and need better promotion
  8. Develop strategic plans that integrate poverty reduction with economic development
  9. Focus on creating system-wide changes rather than isolated programs
  10. Engage business community leaders in poverty reduction conversations

Special Guest: Mary Cacioppi.

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Mary Cacioppi brings her 22 years of combined experience in community development, economic development, and poverty reduction to discuss her groundbreaking approach to economic development. As the founder/CEO of Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois and a national consultant for aha! Process, Mary explains how understanding the root causes of poverty and implementing strategic poverty reduction initiatives can transform communities and create sustainable economic growth across a five-county area.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Start using the term "attainable housing" instead of "affordable housing" to reduce stigma and increase acceptance
  2. Conduct a community risk assessment to identify key areas needing attention
  3. Evaluate your community's commitment to poverty reduction using the TRE Institute assessment tool
  4. Create systems for tracking and measuring the utilization of community services
  5. Build collaborative frameworks with other community organizations to avoid duplicate services
  6. Reframe poverty reduction conversations as "upward mobility" when working with elected officials
  7. Assess which community programs are underutilized and need better promotion
  8. Develop strategic plans that integrate poverty reduction with economic development
  9. Focus on creating system-wide changes rather than isolated programs
  10. Engage business community leaders in poverty reduction conversations

Special Guest: Mary Cacioppi.

Links:

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