181: Beyond the Strip: Clark County's Economic Transformation with Shani Coleman

July 7th, 2025  |  26 mins 54 secs

advanced manufacturing, california business migration, clark county nevada, eco devo, econdev, economic development, federal land challenges, harry reid tech park, innovation district, las vegas economic development, professional sports teams, small business support, sports innovation

180: Red Tape, Real Stories, and Economic Revival with Kevin Crowder

June 30th, 2025  |  45 mins 40 secs

bureaucracy, calvin klein campaign, community transformation, eco devo, econdev, economic development, entrepreneurship, miami beach, red tape, south beach, status quo, strategic exposure

Kevin Crowder discusses his novel "Red Tape Empire" and shares insights from his economic development experience in Miami Beach, focusing on overcoming bureaucratic red tape and the transformative power of strategic exposure.

179: Why PR Beats Advertising in Economic Development Every Time with April Mason

June 23rd, 2025  |  27 mins 23 secs

business development, credibility, earned media, eco devo, econdev, economic development, marketing strategy, media coverage, newsjacking, public relations, thought leadership, trade publications

Dane Carlson interviews April Mason, president and founder of Violet PR, about how economic development organizations can leverage public relations strategies to earn media coverage and build credibility.

178: Reinventing Shop Local Initiatives with Sophia Zheng

June 16th, 2025  |  25 mins 16 secs

ai integration, br&e, business retention, community rewards, data analytics, eco devo, econdev, economic development, govtech, local economies, shop local, technology

Sophia Zheng, CEO of Bludot Technologies, shares how her startup, born inside a city hall, leverages data-driven technology and community rewards to boost local economic development.

177: Expediting the RFI Process, with Dane Carlson

June 9th, 2025  |  33 mins 6 secs

ai technology, board transitions, community asset management, data enrichment, eco devo, econdev, economic development, economic development leadership, podcast creation, professional networking, rfi automation, site hunt, site selection

This episode features Dane Carlson as a guest on Sandy Dubay's EDO Breakthrough Podcast, where he discusses his journey from starting the Econ Dev Show during his son's cancer treatment to creating Site Hunt, an AI-powered platform for economic developers.

176: From Rust Belt to Tech Hub: Buffalo's 25-Year Transformation with Tom Kucharski

June 2nd, 2025  |  32 mins 29 secs

43 north, buffalo, clean energy, eco devo, econdev, economic development, manufacturing, population growth, regionalism, semiconductor tech hub, startup competition, western new york

Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, discusses how Western New York transformed from industrial decline to becoming the nation's only semiconductor tech hub, achieving its first population growth in decades while leveraging abundant clean energy and a $1 million startup competition.

175: Transforming Second-Tier Markets into Economic Powerhouses with Barry Broome

May 26th, 2025  |  36 mins 27 secs

agricultural research, clean tech, community building, data-driven decisions, eco devo, econdev, economic development, economic transformation, sacramento, second-tier markets, semiconductor hub, silicon valley proximity, strategic positioning

Barry Broome, CEO of Greater Sacramento Economic Council, shares his strategies for building trust, assembling top talent, and transforming economic development organizations into knowledge enterprises that operate like technology companies.

174: Building a Regional Brand: Kansas City's Marketing Success with Jonathan Knecht

May 19th, 2025  |  31 mins 24 secs

authentic storytelling, collaborative development, cross-border collaboration, eco devo, econdev, economic development, economic development marketing, in-house agency, industry targeting, kc heart logo, place marketing, regional branding, talent attraction

Jonathan Knecht shares insights on marketing Kansas City to businesses and talent through collaborative regional branding strategies and industry-specific initiatives that highlight the region's unique advantages.

173: From Possibilities to Reality: How to Save Your Small Town with Deb Brown

May 12th, 2025  |  28 mins

community revival, eco devo, econdev, economic development, implementation, paid staff, practical solutions, resistance to change, rural development, small towns, success stories, workbook

Dane Carlson talks to Deb Brown about her new book "From Possibilities to Reality, Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Doable Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories" designed to help revitalize small towns through community-driven economic development.

172: Pennsylvania's First Economic Strategy in 20 Years with Aaron Pitts

May 5th, 2025  |  22 mins 16 secs

artificial intelligence, business attraction, eco devo, econdev, economic development, energy sector, jobsohio, manufacturing, pennsylvania, permitting reform, pittsburgh, site readiness

Aaron Pitts reveals how Pennsylvania's first economic development strategy in 20 years is transforming the Commonwealth into a premier business destination through strategic investments, streamlined permitting, and a proactive approach to business relationships.