app02 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:54:07 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Golf Manufacturing” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/golf%20manufacturing Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:15:00 -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 241: The Industry Hiding in Your Tourism Brochure with Sandy Davis and Ryan Cannon https://podcast.econdevshow.com/241 f4750253-7f50-4983-9c45-e9bd27cb6e5b Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 241 The Industry Hiding in Your Tourism Brochure with Sandy Davis and Ryan Cannon full Dane Carlson Sandy Davis and Ryan Cannon explain how Myrtle Beach is using its golf tourism success to recruit the companies behind the game, with a goal of bringing residents more year-round jobs. 40:22 no <p>In this episode Dane Carlson talks with Sandy Davis of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation and Ryan Cannon of Golf Tourism Solutions about a business recruitment opportunity hiding behind decades of tourism success. </p> <p>Myrtle Beach knew how to attract golfers; the next question was how to attract the companies that make, supply, and support the game. Sandy and Ryan explain how they combined recruitment expertise with golf industry relationships to pursue manufacturers, technology companies, and suppliers. They connect that effort to local workforce programs, an existing market of golfers and courses, and residents’ need for better-paying, year-round jobs. </p> <p>For economic developers, the conversation offers a practical challenge: look beyond what your community’s biggest asset does today and ask what else it could support.</p> <p><a href="https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener">Like this show? Please leave us a review here</a> — even one sentence helps! </p> <h2>10 Actionable Takeaways For Economic Developers</h2> <ol> <li> <strong>Map the businesses behind your biggest attraction.</strong> List who makes the products, supplies the equipment, maintains the facilities, and develops the technology behind the experience visitors come to buy. Myrtle Beach’s opportunity extends from playing golf to producing and supporting the game.</li> <li> <strong>Narrow your target until you can build a prospect list.</strong> Sandy points out that “advanced manufacturing” needs more definition. Identify particular products and operations that fit your assets, such as golf carts, batteries, or turf equipment, then identify the companies making them.</li> <li> <strong>Ask prospects how they already know your community.</strong> Sandy repeatedly met business leaders who had visited Myrtle Beach to play golf but didn’t know it wanted industrial investment. Their answers revealed both a relationship to build on and a business message that wasn’t getting through.</li> <li> <strong>Recruit alongside someone who knows the industry.</strong> Golf Tourism Solutions brings golf relationships and market knowledge; the economic development corporation brings recruitment and site selection expertise. Identify that complementary partner in your community and put both sets of expertise in front of prospects.</li> <li> <strong>Give the trade show a job to do.</strong> Choose target companies and arrange conversations before arriving. MBREDC used a lead-generation company to set meetings, and early outreach developed into continued discussions and repeated visits by a prospective company.</li> <li> <strong>Make customer access part of your location pitch.</strong> Show prospects who already uses their products in your region. For a golf company, Myrtle Beach offers local courses, residents, and visiting golfers, creating a potential market alongside a place to operate.</li> <li> <strong>Build the workforce pitch around actual jobs.</strong> Match an employer’s needs to specific training capabilities. The guests connect golf management and agronomy programs with CNC, welding, and technology education, showing how several programs could support different parts of the same business.</li> <li> <strong>Follow a product into its other markets.</strong> Golf carts led the partners to batteries and chargers, then to campgrounds that could use those products too. Look for adjacent customers that give a prospect additional reasons to consider your region.</li> <li> <strong>Explore whether production could become a visitor experience.</strong> Ryan suggests golf manufacturing tours similar to brewery visits. Ask whether a prospective manufacturer could connect production with tours, demonstrations, or product experiences that appeal to visitors already coming to town.</li> <li> <strong>Make the benefit to residents explicit.</strong> Sandy’s goal is year-round employment, better pay, and benefits in a community facing higher living costs. Use those needs to guide target-industry decisions and evaluate what a prospective project would actually add.</li> </ol><p>Special Guests: Ryan Cannon and Sandy Davis.</p> economic development, target industries, golf tourism, business recruitment, economic diversification, industry clusters, workforce development, destination marketing, myrtle beach, golf manufacturing In this episode Dane Carlson talks with Sandy Davis of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation and Ryan Cannon of Golf Tourism Solutions about a business recruitment opportunity hiding behind decades of tourism success.

Myrtle Beach knew how to attract golfers; the next question was how to attract the companies that make, supply, and support the game. Sandy and Ryan explain how they combined recruitment expertise with golf industry relationships to pursue manufacturers, technology companies, and suppliers. They connect that effort to local workforce programs, an existing market of golfers and courses, and residents’ need for better-paying, year-round jobs.

For economic developers, the conversation offers a practical challenge: look beyond what your community’s biggest asset does today and ask what else it could support.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways For Economic Developers

  1. Map the businesses behind your biggest attraction. List who makes the products, supplies the equipment, maintains the facilities, and develops the technology behind the experience visitors come to buy. Myrtle Beach’s opportunity extends from playing golf to producing and supporting the game.
  2. Narrow your target until you can build a prospect list. Sandy points out that “advanced manufacturing” needs more definition. Identify particular products and operations that fit your assets, such as golf carts, batteries, or turf equipment, then identify the companies making them.
  3. Ask prospects how they already know your community. Sandy repeatedly met business leaders who had visited Myrtle Beach to play golf but didn’t know it wanted industrial investment. Their answers revealed both a relationship to build on and a business message that wasn’t getting through.
  4. Recruit alongside someone who knows the industry. Golf Tourism Solutions brings golf relationships and market knowledge; the economic development corporation brings recruitment and site selection expertise. Identify that complementary partner in your community and put both sets of expertise in front of prospects.
  5. Give the trade show a job to do. Choose target companies and arrange conversations before arriving. MBREDC used a lead-generation company to set meetings, and early outreach developed into continued discussions and repeated visits by a prospective company.
  6. Make customer access part of your location pitch. Show prospects who already uses their products in your region. For a golf company, Myrtle Beach offers local courses, residents, and visiting golfers, creating a potential market alongside a place to operate.
  7. Build the workforce pitch around actual jobs. Match an employer’s needs to specific training capabilities. The guests connect golf management and agronomy programs with CNC, welding, and technology education, showing how several programs could support different parts of the same business.
  8. Follow a product into its other markets. Golf carts led the partners to batteries and chargers, then to campgrounds that could use those products too. Look for adjacent customers that give a prospect additional reasons to consider your region.
  9. Explore whether production could become a visitor experience. Ryan suggests golf manufacturing tours similar to brewery visits. Ask whether a prospective manufacturer could connect production with tours, demonstrations, or product experiences that appeal to visitors already coming to town.
  10. Make the benefit to residents explicit. Sandy’s goal is year-round employment, better pay, and benefits in a community facing higher living costs. Use those needs to guide target-industry decisions and evaluate what a prospective project would actually add.

Special Guests: Ryan Cannon and Sandy Davis.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode Dane Carlson talks with Sandy Davis of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation and Ryan Cannon of Golf Tourism Solutions about a business recruitment opportunity hiding behind decades of tourism success.

Myrtle Beach knew how to attract golfers; the next question was how to attract the companies that make, supply, and support the game. Sandy and Ryan explain how they combined recruitment expertise with golf industry relationships to pursue manufacturers, technology companies, and suppliers. They connect that effort to local workforce programs, an existing market of golfers and courses, and residents’ need for better-paying, year-round jobs.

For economic developers, the conversation offers a practical challenge: look beyond what your community’s biggest asset does today and ask what else it could support.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways For Economic Developers

  1. Map the businesses behind your biggest attraction. List who makes the products, supplies the equipment, maintains the facilities, and develops the technology behind the experience visitors come to buy. Myrtle Beach’s opportunity extends from playing golf to producing and supporting the game.
  2. Narrow your target until you can build a prospect list. Sandy points out that “advanced manufacturing” needs more definition. Identify particular products and operations that fit your assets, such as golf carts, batteries, or turf equipment, then identify the companies making them.
  3. Ask prospects how they already know your community. Sandy repeatedly met business leaders who had visited Myrtle Beach to play golf but didn’t know it wanted industrial investment. Their answers revealed both a relationship to build on and a business message that wasn’t getting through.
  4. Recruit alongside someone who knows the industry. Golf Tourism Solutions brings golf relationships and market knowledge; the economic development corporation brings recruitment and site selection expertise. Identify that complementary partner in your community and put both sets of expertise in front of prospects.
  5. Give the trade show a job to do. Choose target companies and arrange conversations before arriving. MBREDC used a lead-generation company to set meetings, and early outreach developed into continued discussions and repeated visits by a prospective company.
  6. Make customer access part of your location pitch. Show prospects who already uses their products in your region. For a golf company, Myrtle Beach offers local courses, residents, and visiting golfers, creating a potential market alongside a place to operate.
  7. Build the workforce pitch around actual jobs. Match an employer’s needs to specific training capabilities. The guests connect golf management and agronomy programs with CNC, welding, and technology education, showing how several programs could support different parts of the same business.
  8. Follow a product into its other markets. Golf carts led the partners to batteries and chargers, then to campgrounds that could use those products too. Look for adjacent customers that give a prospect additional reasons to consider your region.
  9. Explore whether production could become a visitor experience. Ryan suggests golf manufacturing tours similar to brewery visits. Ask whether a prospective manufacturer could connect production with tours, demonstrations, or product experiences that appeal to visitors already coming to town.
  10. Make the benefit to residents explicit. Sandy’s goal is year-round employment, better pay, and benefits in a community facing higher living costs. Use those needs to guide target-industry decisions and evaluate what a prospective project would actually add.

Special Guests: Ryan Cannon and Sandy Davis.

Sponsored By:

Links:

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