In this episode of Rural Strong, Joe and Dane explore how AI tools like Sitehunt automate site analysis, RFI responses, and data collection — giving small EDOs the same analytical firepower as their big-city counterparts. Dane shares his unlikely journey from early-2000s internet entrepreneur to chamber president in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Texas economic-development director to startup CEO. They discuss why feedback matters more than features, why execution beats ideas every time, and why even the smallest communities need a modern website, a plan, and the willingness to pivot.

Dane also unpacks how child care, housing, and workforce shortages have become the new pillars of competitiveness, why AI is best thought of as a “dim-witted but persistent intern,” and how rural leaders can use technology to take back the information advantage from site selectors.

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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Treat AI as an intern, not an oracle. Feed it data and context to get useful answers.
2. Launch before you're ready. Iterate in public and let real feedback drive improvement.
3. Build a website that sells your community. Clear contact info and photos matter more than fancy graphics.
4. Use LinkedIn as your industry newspaper. Learn from and connect with other EDOs daily.
5. Start a local podcast. It's the best modern BRE tool and a non-threatening way to engage businesses.
6. Plan but pivot. No plan survives first contact with reality; stay nimble.
7. Address child care and housing head-on. They're workforce issues now, not social ones.
8. Prioritize execution over ideas. A mediocre idea well executed beats a brilliant idea untried.
9. Save cash for the long haul. Entrepreneurs fail more often from running out of runway than from bad concepts.
10. Ask for feedback early and often. It's how both products and communities get better.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• RuralStrong - YouTube
• Dane Carlson | LinkedIn
• Sitehunt
• Joe Barker | LinkedIn

The GPEDC is both a planning agency and a traditional ED practitioner. They are the official steward of the Greater Peoria Economic Development District on behalf of the US EDA, and are responsible for the creation and stewardship of the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. They are also tasked with all the traditional ED activities like business attraction, BRE, startup, etc.

In almost every other place, the "planning" function would be done by a regional planning commission or council of government and the "working" function done by an 501c6/c3 EDO.

They get to do both, and it is very cool.

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Special Guest: Chris Setti.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Christopher Setti | LinkedIn
• Tarter Source: CEO of the Greater Peoria EDC Chris Setti | Recorded live
• Business Forward | S01 E22: Regional Development Strategy | Season 1 | Episode 22 | PBS — Matt George goes one on one with Chris Setti as we talk about a regional strategy for economic success
• News and Events - Greater Peoria EDC
• Greater Peoria Economic Development Council: Overview | LinkedIn
• Homepage - Greater Peoria EDC
• A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard — Chris: "One of my first real boss-mentors had me read this (only 3 pages) and it has been a sort of guidepost to how I operate as a professional: just do the work and be useful to people."