web02.fireside.fm Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:58 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Manufacturing” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/manufacturing Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:15:00 -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 176: From Rust Belt to Tech Hub: Buffalo's 25-Year Transformation with Tom Kucharski https://podcast.econdevshow.com/176 27064b1d-26f1-4ad7-9117-ba6d2ec1f800 Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 176 From Rust Belt to Tech Hub: Buffalo's 25-Year Transformation with Tom Kucharski full Dane Carlson 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. 32:29 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, who has led the organization's transformation efforts for 25 years. Kucharski shares how Buffalo evolved from being the 8th largest U.S. city in 1960 to experiencing devastating industrial decline, and then orchestrating a remarkable comeback that includes the first population growth in decades. He discusses the region's competitive advantages including clean hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls, the 43 North business plan competition (the largest in the country with $1 million prizes), and securing the nation's only semiconductor tech hub designation. The conversation covers Buffalo's evolution into a hub for manufacturing, life sciences, and technology, while addressing new challenges like housing shortages that come with rapid growth and success. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Tom Kucharski. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Buffalo, semiconductor tech hub, clean energy, 43 North, population growth, economic development, Western New York, manufacturing, regionalism, startup competition In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, who has led the organization's transformation efforts for 25 years. Kucharski shares how Buffalo evolved from being the 8th largest U.S. city in 1960 to experiencing devastating industrial decline, and then orchestrating a remarkable comeback that includes the first population growth in decades.

He discusses the region's competitive advantages including clean hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls, the 43 North business plan competition (the largest in the country with $1 million prizes), and securing the nation's only semiconductor tech hub designation. The conversation covers Buffalo's evolution into a hub for manufacturing, life sciences, and technology, while addressing new challenges like housing shortages that come with rapid growth and success.

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

Special Guest: Tom Kucharski.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, who has led the organization's transformation efforts for 25 years. Kucharski shares how Buffalo evolved from being the 8th largest U.S. city in 1960 to experiencing devastating industrial decline, and then orchestrating a remarkable comeback that includes the first population growth in decades.

He discusses the region's competitive advantages including clean hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls, the 43 North business plan competition (the largest in the country with $1 million prizes), and securing the nation's only semiconductor tech hub designation. The conversation covers Buffalo's evolution into a hub for manufacturing, life sciences, and technology, while addressing new challenges like housing shortages that come with rapid growth and success.

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

Special Guest: Tom Kucharski.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 172: Pennsylvania's First Economic Strategy in 20 Years with Aaron Pitts https://podcast.econdevshow.com/172 37fd3b95-c320-4f94-b6b1-0775fd892c55 Mon, 05 May 2025 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 172 Pennsylvania's First Economic Strategy in 20 Years with Aaron Pitts full Dane Carlson 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. 22:16 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Aaron Pitts, Chief Commercial Officer for Business PA, who shares how Pennsylvania is revitalizing its economic development approach under Governor Shapiro's administration. Aaron explains the creation of Business PA, a dedicated unit within the Department of Community and Economic Development focused exclusively on building and maintaining business relationships. He details Pennsylvania's strategic advantages as a founding state with major cities, rural areas, and world-class educational institutions like UPenn and Carnegie Mellon, while highlighting their focus on five key sectors: life sciences, manufacturing, energy, AI/tech, and business services. Listeners learn about Pennsylvania's impressive $500 million investment in site development, streamlined permitting processes that reduced business license waits from eight weeks to two days, and how Pittsburgh has emerged as a global AI leader with companies like Google, Nvidia, and Duolingo. Aaron also shares insights from his previous experience helping create JobsOhio and explains why leaving corporate America for economic development has been so personally fulfilling. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Create dedicated units focused solely on business relationships within your economic development organization to ensure businesses receive specialized attention. Invest significantly in site readiness programs with dedicated funding to create shovel-ready locations that can immediately accommodate business relocations. Implement a concierge service for permitting to help businesses navigate regulatory processes more efficiently and combat negative perceptions about permitting complexity. Identify and focus on 4-5 key sectors where your region has competitive advantages rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Build regional partnerships with clear roles and responsibilities for business retention, expansion and attraction activities to present a unified front to prospective companies. Bring corporate experience into economic development leadership to better understand and speak the language of business executives. Develop a strategy that balances care for incumbent businesses while positioning your region to attract cutting-edge industries. Create a disciplined financial model to evaluate incentive offers that ensures both the business and the region benefit from each deal. Leverage educational institutions as key partners in workforce development and innovation to create distinct advantages in specific sectors. Foster an attitudinal shift within economic development organizations from reactive to proactive engagement with businesses to demonstrate that you genuinely care about their success. Special Guest: Aaron Pitts. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Economic development, Pennsylvania, site readiness, permitting reform, business attraction, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, JobsOhio, Pittsburgh, energy sector In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Aaron Pitts, Chief Commercial Officer for Business PA, who shares how Pennsylvania is revitalizing its economic development approach under Governor Shapiro's administration.

Aaron explains the creation of Business PA, a dedicated unit within the Department of Community and Economic Development focused exclusively on building and maintaining business relationships. He details Pennsylvania's strategic advantages as a founding state with major cities, rural areas, and world-class educational institutions like UPenn and Carnegie Mellon, while highlighting their focus on five key sectors: life sciences, manufacturing, energy, AI/tech, and business services.

Listeners learn about Pennsylvania's impressive $500 million investment in site development, streamlined permitting processes that reduced business license waits from eight weeks to two days, and how Pittsburgh has emerged as a global AI leader with companies like Google, Nvidia, and Duolingo.

Aaron also shares insights from his previous experience helping create JobsOhio and explains why leaving corporate America for economic development has been so personally fulfilling.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Create dedicated units focused solely on business relationships within your economic development organization to ensure businesses receive specialized attention.
  2. Invest significantly in site readiness programs with dedicated funding to create shovel-ready locations that can immediately accommodate business relocations.
  3. Implement a concierge service for permitting to help businesses navigate regulatory processes more efficiently and combat negative perceptions about permitting complexity.
  4. Identify and focus on 4-5 key sectors where your region has competitive advantages rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
  5. Build regional partnerships with clear roles and responsibilities for business retention, expansion and attraction activities to present a unified front to prospective companies.
  6. Bring corporate experience into economic development leadership to better understand and speak the language of business executives.
  7. Develop a strategy that balances care for incumbent businesses while positioning your region to attract cutting-edge industries.
  8. Create a disciplined financial model to evaluate incentive offers that ensures both the business and the region benefit from each deal.
  9. Leverage educational institutions as key partners in workforce development and innovation to create distinct advantages in specific sectors.
  10. Foster an attitudinal shift within economic development organizations from reactive to proactive engagement with businesses to demonstrate that you genuinely care about their success.

Special Guest: Aaron Pitts.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Aaron Pitts, Chief Commercial Officer for Business PA, who shares how Pennsylvania is revitalizing its economic development approach under Governor Shapiro's administration.

Aaron explains the creation of Business PA, a dedicated unit within the Department of Community and Economic Development focused exclusively on building and maintaining business relationships. He details Pennsylvania's strategic advantages as a founding state with major cities, rural areas, and world-class educational institutions like UPenn and Carnegie Mellon, while highlighting their focus on five key sectors: life sciences, manufacturing, energy, AI/tech, and business services.

Listeners learn about Pennsylvania's impressive $500 million investment in site development, streamlined permitting processes that reduced business license waits from eight weeks to two days, and how Pittsburgh has emerged as a global AI leader with companies like Google, Nvidia, and Duolingo.

Aaron also shares insights from his previous experience helping create JobsOhio and explains why leaving corporate America for economic development has been so personally fulfilling.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Create dedicated units focused solely on business relationships within your economic development organization to ensure businesses receive specialized attention.
  2. Invest significantly in site readiness programs with dedicated funding to create shovel-ready locations that can immediately accommodate business relocations.
  3. Implement a concierge service for permitting to help businesses navigate regulatory processes more efficiently and combat negative perceptions about permitting complexity.
  4. Identify and focus on 4-5 key sectors where your region has competitive advantages rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
  5. Build regional partnerships with clear roles and responsibilities for business retention, expansion and attraction activities to present a unified front to prospective companies.
  6. Bring corporate experience into economic development leadership to better understand and speak the language of business executives.
  7. Develop a strategy that balances care for incumbent businesses while positioning your region to attract cutting-edge industries.
  8. Create a disciplined financial model to evaluate incentive offers that ensures both the business and the region benefit from each deal.
  9. Leverage educational institutions as key partners in workforce development and innovation to create distinct advantages in specific sectors.
  10. Foster an attitudinal shift within economic development organizations from reactive to proactive engagement with businesses to demonstrate that you genuinely care about their success.

Special Guest: Aaron Pitts.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 169: Reimagining Urban Industrial Spaces for Modern Manufacturing with Lindsay Greene https://podcast.econdevshow.com/169 442661f9-7c49-415e-a3a2-4b070a675963 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 169 Reimagining Urban Industrial Spaces for Modern Manufacturing with Lindsay Greene full Dane Carlson Lindsay Greene discusses how the Brooklyn Navy Yard is reimagining manufacturing and industrial spaces while creating sustainable economic opportunities for communities. 35:12 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson speaks with Lindsay Greene, CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, about transforming industrial spaces for modern manufacturing. Greene shares insights on the challenges of changing perceptions about manufacturing careers, the importance of integrating workforce development with economic strategy, and her unusual career path from investment banking to grocery e-commerce before leading a major industrial development. The conversation explores how the Navy Yard creates accessible economic opportunities, the difficulties of attracting grocery stores to underserved areas, and Greene's passion for industrial policy as a driver of economic growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways Consider integrating workforce development and economic development under one organizational structure to reduce friction and align goals. Modernize perceptions of manufacturing by highlighting how today's industrial jobs offer sustainable careers without requiring advanced degrees. Create flexible spaces like pop-up opportunities for businesses not ready to commit to permanent locations. Recognize the unique challenges of attracting grocery stores and develop targeted strategies for food access in underserved areas. Leverage social media (like Instagram) and accessible communication channels to connect with community members and businesses. Balance preservation of industrial/waterfront spaces with the need for evolution to meet modern economic needs. Build strategic partnerships that enhance both economic opportunity and quality of life for residents. Develop demonstration projects that showcase how traditional industries are transforming for the future. Consider how your personal and professional background, even if unconventional, brings valuable perspective to economic development work. Create open channels of communication between your executive team and the public to foster engagement and collaboration. Special Guest: Lindsay Greene. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Brooklyn Navy Yard, manufacturing, economic development, industrial policy, workforce development, urban renewal, sustainable careers, innovation, working waterfront, community impact In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson speaks with Lindsay Greene, CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, about transforming industrial spaces for modern manufacturing. Greene shares insights on the challenges of changing perceptions about manufacturing careers, the importance of integrating workforce development with economic strategy, and her unusual career path from investment banking to grocery e-commerce before leading a major industrial development. The conversation explores how the Navy Yard creates accessible economic opportunities, the difficulties of attracting grocery stores to underserved areas, and Greene's passion for industrial policy as a driver of economic growth.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways

  1. Consider integrating workforce development and economic development under one organizational structure to reduce friction and align goals.
  2. Modernize perceptions of manufacturing by highlighting how today's industrial jobs offer sustainable careers without requiring advanced degrees.
  3. Create flexible spaces like pop-up opportunities for businesses not ready to commit to permanent locations.
  4. Recognize the unique challenges of attracting grocery stores and develop targeted strategies for food access in underserved areas.
  5. Leverage social media (like Instagram) and accessible communication channels to connect with community members and businesses.
  6. Balance preservation of industrial/waterfront spaces with the need for evolution to meet modern economic needs.
  7. Build strategic partnerships that enhance both economic opportunity and quality of life for residents.
  8. Develop demonstration projects that showcase how traditional industries are transforming for the future.
  9. Consider how your personal and professional background, even if unconventional, brings valuable perspective to economic development work.
  10. Create open channels of communication between your executive team and the public to foster engagement and collaboration.

Special Guest: Lindsay Greene.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson speaks with Lindsay Greene, CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, about transforming industrial spaces for modern manufacturing. Greene shares insights on the challenges of changing perceptions about manufacturing careers, the importance of integrating workforce development with economic strategy, and her unusual career path from investment banking to grocery e-commerce before leading a major industrial development. The conversation explores how the Navy Yard creates accessible economic opportunities, the difficulties of attracting grocery stores to underserved areas, and Greene's passion for industrial policy as a driver of economic growth.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways

  1. Consider integrating workforce development and economic development under one organizational structure to reduce friction and align goals.
  2. Modernize perceptions of manufacturing by highlighting how today's industrial jobs offer sustainable careers without requiring advanced degrees.
  3. Create flexible spaces like pop-up opportunities for businesses not ready to commit to permanent locations.
  4. Recognize the unique challenges of attracting grocery stores and develop targeted strategies for food access in underserved areas.
  5. Leverage social media (like Instagram) and accessible communication channels to connect with community members and businesses.
  6. Balance preservation of industrial/waterfront spaces with the need for evolution to meet modern economic needs.
  7. Build strategic partnerships that enhance both economic opportunity and quality of life for residents.
  8. Develop demonstration projects that showcase how traditional industries are transforming for the future.
  9. Consider how your personal and professional background, even if unconventional, brings valuable perspective to economic development work.
  10. Create open channels of communication between your executive team and the public to foster engagement and collaboration.

Special Guest: Lindsay Greene.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 112: Encore: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing with Ilana Preuss https://podcast.econdevshow.com/112 4a3b9f40-992f-4e87-a56c-d33fdcea3608 Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 112 Encore: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing with Ilana Preuss full Dane Carlson In this episode, Dane speaks with Ilana Preuss, author of Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing. (Originally aired June 2021) 37:51 no What's your downtown like? As a county economic developer, I can look out over several different cities, all with a diverse array of downtowns: Some are vibrant, beautiful tourist destinations. Others are transitioning and improving with city dollars and commercial reinvestment into new stores, new facades, new lighting, new life. Some suburban cities, to their shame, don't even really have downtowns. Unfortunately, I live in a town like that. But still, others are shells of their former selves; Empty storefronts with faded signs and broken sidewalks -- places that you don't go after dark -- not because they're dangerous per se, but because there's no reason to. Our guest today, hopes to change that. Ilana Preuss (https://www.recastcity.com/about) and her book Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1642831921/econdevshow-20) offer an excellent primer on how to rebuild your downtown without relying on outsiders to bring their businesses to your community. Ilana's an expert. She led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Her firm Recast City (https://www.recastcity.com/), works with local leaders to help create great places. Enjoy the show, and the book. Recast Your City https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/f/f078f684-f72f-4a43-957d-de3aff69810b/2rD6QgD3.png (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1642831921/econdevshow-20) (Originally aired June 2021) --- Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Ilana Preuss. econdev, economic development, downtown, Main Street, manufacturing, made in, What's your downtown like?

As a county economic developer, I can look out over several different cities, all with a diverse array of downtowns:

Some are vibrant, beautiful tourist destinations.

Others are transitioning and improving with city dollars and commercial reinvestment into new stores, new facades, new lighting, new life.

Some suburban cities, to their shame, don't even really have downtowns. Unfortunately, I live in a town like that.

But still, others are shells of their former selves; Empty storefronts with faded signs and broken sidewalks -- places that you don't go after dark -- not because they're dangerous per se, but because there's no reason to.

Our guest today, hopes to change that. Ilana Preuss and her book Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing offer an excellent primer on how to rebuild your downtown without relying on outsiders to bring their businesses to your community.

Ilana's an expert. She led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Her firm Recast City, works with local leaders to help create great places.

Enjoy the show, and the book.

Recast Your City

(Originally aired June 2021)

---

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

Special Guest: Ilana Preuss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> What's your downtown like?

As a county economic developer, I can look out over several different cities, all with a diverse array of downtowns:

Some are vibrant, beautiful tourist destinations.

Others are transitioning and improving with city dollars and commercial reinvestment into new stores, new facades, new lighting, new life.

Some suburban cities, to their shame, don't even really have downtowns. Unfortunately, I live in a town like that.

But still, others are shells of their former selves; Empty storefronts with faded signs and broken sidewalks -- places that you don't go after dark -- not because they're dangerous per se, but because there's no reason to.

Our guest today, hopes to change that. Ilana Preuss and her book Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing offer an excellent primer on how to rebuild your downtown without relying on outsiders to bring their businesses to your community.

Ilana's an expert. She led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Her firm Recast City, works with local leaders to help create great places.

Enjoy the show, and the book.

Recast Your City

(Originally aired June 2021)

---

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

Special Guest: Ilana Preuss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 82: Rebuild Made in America with Wendy Rosen https://podcast.econdevshow.com/82 5e655c14-08ac-418f-8a5e-376d46d208fe Mon, 13 Feb 2023 15:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 82 Rebuild Made in America with Wendy Rosen full Dane Carlson Last week, Wendy Rosen wrote an open letter to President Biden calling on the federal government to help rebuild Made in America. Her letter "Dear President Biden, Rebuild Made in America," struck a cord with Dane, and he brought her on the show to talk about it, and her experiences and insight. 32:13 no Last week, Wendy Rosen wrote an open letter to President Biden calling on the federal government to help rebuild Made in America. Her letter "Dear President Biden, Rebuild Made in America," (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rebuild-made-america-wendy-rosen/) struck a cord with Dane, and he brought her on the show to talk about it, and her experiences and insight. Wendy Rosen is the founder of the American Made Show, the national trade show for American made products. At it's height the show featured 1,600 exhibiting artisans and hosted more than 10,000 retail buyers who ordered more than $40 million at each show in Philadelphia. Realizing that artists desperately needed business education, Rosen founded the Arts Business Institute and taught workshops in more than 35 states. As one of the first in the field of "arts economic development," she transformed an abandoned civil war era cotton mill into the Mill Centre Artist Studios. Rosen's AmericanStyle magazine published an annual list of America's Top Arts Destinations. The sector grew to contribute 14B annually to the GDP but lost 70% of it's small businesses after 2009 when small businesses lost seasonal credit lines in the wake of the banking crisis and closure of community banks. Rosen now provides affordable growth planning services for arts organizations and creative communities (https://wendyrosen.com). After Richard Florida gives you an assessment or asset inventory, she's the person to give you an affordable plan of action. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Wendy Rosen. econdev, economic development, eco devo, made in America, art, made in the USA, President Biden , manufacturing, small scale manufacturing Last week, Wendy Rosen wrote an open letter to President Biden calling on the federal government to help rebuild Made in America. Her letter "Dear President Biden, Rebuild Made in America," struck a cord with Dane, and he brought her on the show to talk about it, and her experiences and insight.

Wendy Rosen is the founder of the American Made Show, the national trade show for American made products. At it's height the show featured 1,600 exhibiting artisans and hosted more than 10,000 retail buyers who ordered more than $40 million at each show in Philadelphia.

Realizing that artists desperately needed business education, Rosen founded the Arts Business Institute and taught workshops in more than 35 states. As one of the first in the field of "arts economic development," she transformed an abandoned civil war era cotton mill into the Mill Centre Artist Studios.

Rosen's AmericanStyle magazine published an annual list of America's Top Arts Destinations. The sector grew to contribute 14B annually to the GDP but lost 70% of it's small businesses after 2009 when small businesses lost seasonal credit lines in the wake of the banking crisis and closure of community banks.

Rosen now provides affordable growth planning services for arts organizations and creative communities. After Richard Florida gives you an assessment or asset inventory, she's the person to give you an affordable plan of action.

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

Special Guest: Wendy Rosen.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> Last week, Wendy Rosen wrote an open letter to President Biden calling on the federal government to help rebuild Made in America. Her letter "Dear President Biden, Rebuild Made in America," struck a cord with Dane, and he brought her on the show to talk about it, and her experiences and insight.

Wendy Rosen is the founder of the American Made Show, the national trade show for American made products. At it's height the show featured 1,600 exhibiting artisans and hosted more than 10,000 retail buyers who ordered more than $40 million at each show in Philadelphia.

Realizing that artists desperately needed business education, Rosen founded the Arts Business Institute and taught workshops in more than 35 states. As one of the first in the field of "arts economic development," she transformed an abandoned civil war era cotton mill into the Mill Centre Artist Studios.

Rosen's AmericanStyle magazine published an annual list of America's Top Arts Destinations. The sector grew to contribute 14B annually to the GDP but lost 70% of it's small businesses after 2009 when small businesses lost seasonal credit lines in the wake of the banking crisis and closure of community banks.

Rosen now provides affordable growth planning services for arts organizations and creative communities. After Richard Florida gives you an assessment or asset inventory, she's the person to give you an affordable plan of action.

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

Special Guest: Wendy Rosen.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 7: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing with Ilana Preuss https://podcast.econdevshow.com/7 2fefd20b-c7be-4bc6-b501-56e1e7ee9983 Mon, 21 Jun 2021 18:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 7 How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing with Ilana Preuss full Dane Carlson In this episode, Dane speaks with Ilana Preuss, author of Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing. 37:30 no What's your downtown like? As a county economic developer, I can look out over several different cities, all with a diverse array of downtowns: Some are vibrant, beautiful tourist destinations. Others are transitioning and improving with city dollars and commercial reinvestment into new stores, new facades, new lighting, new life. Some suburban cities, to their shame, don't even really have downtowns. Unfortunately, I live in a town like that. But still, others are shells of their former selves; Empty storefronts with faded signs and broken sidewalks -- places that you don't go after dark -- not because they're dangerous per se, but because there's no reason to. Our guest today, hopes to change that. Ilana Preuss (https://www.recastcity.com/about) and her book Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1642831921/econdevshow-20) offer an excellent primer on how to rebuild your downtown without relying on outsiders to bring their businesses to your community. Ilana's an expert. She led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Her firm Recast City (https://www.recastcity.com/), works with local leaders to help create great places. Enjoy the show, and the book. Recast Your City https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/f/f078f684-f72f-4a43-957d-de3aff69810b/2rD6QgD3.png (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1642831921/econdevshow-20) Special Guest: Ilana Preuss. econdev, economic development, downtown, Main Street, manufacturing, made in, What's your downtown like?

As a county economic developer, I can look out over several different cities, all with a diverse array of downtowns:

Some are vibrant, beautiful tourist destinations.

Others are transitioning and improving with city dollars and commercial reinvestment into new stores, new facades, new lighting, new life.

Some suburban cities, to their shame, don't even really have downtowns. Unfortunately, I live in a town like that.

But still, others are shells of their former selves; Empty storefronts with faded signs and broken sidewalks -- places that you don't go after dark -- not because they're dangerous per se, but because there's no reason to.

Our guest today, hopes to change that. Ilana Preuss and her book Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing offer an excellent primer on how to rebuild your downtown without relying on outsiders to bring their businesses to your community.

Ilana's an expert. She led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Her firm Recast City, works with local leaders to help create great places.

Enjoy the show, and the book.

Recast Your City

Special Guest: Ilana Preuss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> What's your downtown like?

As a county economic developer, I can look out over several different cities, all with a diverse array of downtowns:

Some are vibrant, beautiful tourist destinations.

Others are transitioning and improving with city dollars and commercial reinvestment into new stores, new facades, new lighting, new life.

Some suburban cities, to their shame, don't even really have downtowns. Unfortunately, I live in a town like that.

But still, others are shells of their former selves; Empty storefronts with faded signs and broken sidewalks -- places that you don't go after dark -- not because they're dangerous per se, but because there's no reason to.

Our guest today, hopes to change that. Ilana Preuss and her book Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown with Small-Scale Manufacturing offer an excellent primer on how to rebuild your downtown without relying on outsiders to bring their businesses to your community.

Ilana's an expert. She led the technical assistance program at the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program and was the Vice President & Chief of Staff at Smart Growth America. Her firm Recast City, works with local leaders to help create great places.

Enjoy the show, and the book.

Recast Your City

Special Guest: Ilana Preuss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>