web02.fireside.fm Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:34:57 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Infrastructure Investment” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/infrastructure%20investment Mon, 13 Apr 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 215: How Oklahoma City Turned Voter Investment Into Real Growth with Christy Gillenwater https://podcast.econdevshow.com/215 0743b3a0-13a5-416c-bf60-326ab2f88eec Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 215 How Oklahoma City Turned Voter Investment Into Real Growth with Christy Gillenwater full Dane Carlson How Oklahoma City used decades of voter-backed investments and business leadership alignment to transform its economy and quality of place. 30:56 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, about how Oklahoma City has built sustained economic momentum through its unique MAPS program, a voter-approved, pay-as-you-go funding model for transformational community investments. Christy explains how decades of strategic spending on quality of place, infrastructure, and people have reshaped the city’s trajectory, enabled major wins like hosting Olympic events, and strengthened key industries such as aerospace, energy, and life sciences. The conversation also explores the power of business leadership engagement, the growing role of data and AI in economic development, and practical advice for communities looking to unlock their own growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/). 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Bundle major projects into a single, clear vision and take it to voters as one package. Avoid debt when possible and tie project execution directly to collected revenue. Invest consistently in quality of place, not just incentives or recruitment. Engage top CEOs as active partners, not just passive supporters. Build long-term strategies that evolve with community needs over decades. Use data continuously to reassess competitive positioning and refine strategy. Align economic development, tourism, and community development under one structure when possible. Focus on expanding existing industries and assets, not just chasing new ones. Leverage anchor institutions to guide sector strategy and investment. Treat community engagement as part of both planning and execution, not just a checkbox. Special Guest: Christy Gillenwater. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Oklahoma City, MAPS program, quality of place, site selection, chamber of commerce, public-private partnership, infrastructure investment, workforce development, regional growth In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, about how Oklahoma City has built sustained economic momentum through its unique MAPS program, a voter-approved, pay-as-you-go funding model for transformational community investments.

Christy explains how decades of strategic spending on quality of place, infrastructure, and people have reshaped the city’s trajectory, enabled major wins like hosting Olympic events, and strengthened key industries such as aerospace, energy, and life sciences.

The conversation also explores the power of business leadership engagement, the growing role of data and AI in economic development, and practical advice for communities looking to unlock their own growth.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Bundle major projects into a single, clear vision and take it to voters as one package.
  2. Avoid debt when possible and tie project execution directly to collected revenue.
  3. Invest consistently in quality of place, not just incentives or recruitment.
  4. Engage top CEOs as active partners, not just passive supporters.
  5. Build long-term strategies that evolve with community needs over decades.
  6. Use data continuously to reassess competitive positioning and refine strategy.
  7. Align economic development, tourism, and community development under one structure when possible.
  8. Focus on expanding existing industries and assets, not just chasing new ones.
  9. Leverage anchor institutions to guide sector strategy and investment.
  10. Treat community engagement as part of both planning and execution, not just a checkbox.

Special Guest: Christy Gillenwater.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, about how Oklahoma City has built sustained economic momentum through its unique MAPS program, a voter-approved, pay-as-you-go funding model for transformational community investments.

Christy explains how decades of strategic spending on quality of place, infrastructure, and people have reshaped the city’s trajectory, enabled major wins like hosting Olympic events, and strengthened key industries such as aerospace, energy, and life sciences.

The conversation also explores the power of business leadership engagement, the growing role of data and AI in economic development, and practical advice for communities looking to unlock their own growth.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Bundle major projects into a single, clear vision and take it to voters as one package.
  2. Avoid debt when possible and tie project execution directly to collected revenue.
  3. Invest consistently in quality of place, not just incentives or recruitment.
  4. Engage top CEOs as active partners, not just passive supporters.
  5. Build long-term strategies that evolve with community needs over decades.
  6. Use data continuously to reassess competitive positioning and refine strategy.
  7. Align economic development, tourism, and community development under one structure when possible.
  8. Focus on expanding existing industries and assets, not just chasing new ones.
  9. Leverage anchor institutions to guide sector strategy and investment.
  10. Treat community engagement as part of both planning and execution, not just a checkbox.

Special Guest: Christy Gillenwater.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 207: Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds https://podcast.econdevshow.com/207 b0021da6-9bcc-46c9-b816-cbe12b2ed35f Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 207 Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds full Dane Carlson A practical conversation with Ellie Reynolds on signaling “open for business” through speed, infrastructure, regulatory reform, and strategic growth in Douglas County, Colorado. 27:54 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market. Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way. The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Douglas County Colorado, economic development strategy, speed to market, shovel ready sites, red tape reduction, infrastructure investment, permitting reform, Front Range Colorado, business attraction, economic development leadership In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market.

Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way.

The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth.

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

Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market.

Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way.

The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth.

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

Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>