app03 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:47:13 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Incentive Negotiations” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/incentive%20negotiations Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500 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 230: No Is Never the Final Answer: Creative Retention Strategies with Andrew Sloss https://podcast.econdevshow.com/230 3388830d-a5de-4298-bc77-673fc0bf638f Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 230 No Is Never the Final Answer: Creative Retention Strategies with Andrew Sloss full Dane Carlson Andrew Sloss explains why “no” is often the beginning of a conversation, how communities can support struggling businesses creatively, and why transparency, relationships, and incentive compliance matter. 26:21 no <p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Andrew Sloss discusses his transition to independent consulting and the lessons he has learned from nearly two decades in site selection and incentive negotiations. He explains why an initial “no” from a community may reflect a misunderstanding, a lack of available tools, or simply bad timing, and how better communication and persistence can create new possibilities. </p> <p>Andrew also shares a retention project involving a struggling retailer, including how communities used job grants, workforce funds, and university tuition benefits to help keep locations open. The conversation covers demonstrating a company’s broader community value, building flexible incentive programs, avoiding compliance failures, maintaining long-term relationships, and using AI carefully in site selection work.</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> Treat an initial “no” as a signal to clarify the request, not necessarily as the final decision.</li> <li> When a project does not create new jobs or investment, look for ways to demonstrate its broader community value.</li> <li> Assess whether a business provides essential services that residents would have to travel significantly farther to access.</li> <li> Review existing programs—such as workforce, façade, landscaping, or downtown grants—for unused funds and possible flexibility.</li> <li> Discuss unusual retention requests internally with elected officials and local leadership before dismissing them.</li> <li> Be transparent about what you can and cannot provide, and explain the limits of your authority clearly.</li> <li> Maintain strong relationships with site selectors, consultants, and company representatives before a project arrives.</li> <li> When negotiating incentives, discuss whether the answer is a hard no, a temporary no, or a maybe that could change with a stronger business case.</li> <li> Build incentive compliance responsibilities into multiple people’s roles so the process does not disappear when one employee leaves.</li> <li> Use AI for administrative support and high-level research, but double- and triple-check buildings, people, and other site-selection facts before relying on them. Special Guest: Andrew Sloss.</li> </ol> econdev, economic development, eco devo, site selection, incentive negotiations, retention projects, economic development incentives, incentive compliance, business retention, workforce training, community relationships, economic development strategy, artificial intelligence In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Andrew Sloss discusses his transition to independent consulting and the lessons he has learned from nearly two decades in site selection and incentive negotiations. He explains why an initial “no” from a community may reflect a misunderstanding, a lack of available tools, or simply bad timing, and how better communication and persistence can create new possibilities.

Andrew also shares a retention project involving a struggling retailer, including how communities used job grants, workforce funds, and university tuition benefits to help keep locations open. The conversation covers demonstrating a company’s broader community value, building flexible incentive programs, avoiding compliance failures, maintaining long-term relationships, and using AI carefully in site selection work.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Treat an initial “no” as a signal to clarify the request, not necessarily as the final decision.
  2. When a project does not create new jobs or investment, look for ways to demonstrate its broader community value.
  3. Assess whether a business provides essential services that residents would have to travel significantly farther to access.
  4. Review existing programs—such as workforce, façade, landscaping, or downtown grants—for unused funds and possible flexibility.
  5. Discuss unusual retention requests internally with elected officials and local leadership before dismissing them.
  6. Be transparent about what you can and cannot provide, and explain the limits of your authority clearly.
  7. Maintain strong relationships with site selectors, consultants, and company representatives before a project arrives.
  8. When negotiating incentives, discuss whether the answer is a hard no, a temporary no, or a maybe that could change with a stronger business case.
  9. Build incentive compliance responsibilities into multiple people’s roles so the process does not disappear when one employee leaves.
  10. Use AI for administrative support and high-level research, but double- and triple-check buildings, people, and other site-selection facts before relying on them.

Special Guest: Andrew Sloss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Andrew Sloss discusses his transition to independent consulting and the lessons he has learned from nearly two decades in site selection and incentive negotiations. He explains why an initial “no” from a community may reflect a misunderstanding, a lack of available tools, or simply bad timing, and how better communication and persistence can create new possibilities.

Andrew also shares a retention project involving a struggling retailer, including how communities used job grants, workforce funds, and university tuition benefits to help keep locations open. The conversation covers demonstrating a company’s broader community value, building flexible incentive programs, avoiding compliance failures, maintaining long-term relationships, and using AI carefully in site selection work.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Treat an initial “no” as a signal to clarify the request, not necessarily as the final decision.
  2. When a project does not create new jobs or investment, look for ways to demonstrate its broader community value.
  3. Assess whether a business provides essential services that residents would have to travel significantly farther to access.
  4. Review existing programs—such as workforce, façade, landscaping, or downtown grants—for unused funds and possible flexibility.
  5. Discuss unusual retention requests internally with elected officials and local leadership before dismissing them.
  6. Be transparent about what you can and cannot provide, and explain the limits of your authority clearly.
  7. Maintain strong relationships with site selectors, consultants, and company representatives before a project arrives.
  8. When negotiating incentives, discuss whether the answer is a hard no, a temporary no, or a maybe that could change with a stronger business case.
  9. Build incentive compliance responsibilities into multiple people’s roles so the process does not disappear when one employee leaves.
  10. Use AI for administrative support and high-level research, but double- and triple-check buildings, people, and other site-selection facts before relying on them.

Special Guest: Andrew Sloss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

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