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    <fireside:genDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:23:21 -0500</fireside:genDate>
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    <title>Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Project Competitiveness”</title>
    <link>https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/project%20competitiveness</link>
    <pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:15:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <description>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.
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    <itunes:subtitle>Actionable economic development strategies and stories</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Dane Carlson</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>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.
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    <itunes:keywords>econ dev, economic development, ed</itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Dane Carlson</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>show@econdevshow.com</itunes:email>
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  <itunes:category text="Marketing"/>
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  <title>212: How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp</title>
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  <pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:15:00 -0500</pubDate>
  <author>Dane Carlson</author>
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  <itunes:episode>212</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp</itunes:title>
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  <itunes:author>Dane Carlson</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>A conversation with Taylor Stepp about how incentives really work in corporate location decisions and how communities can design faster, smarter, more competitive development processes.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>23:57</itunes:duration>
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  <description>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals. 
Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller. 
The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps!  Special Guest: Taylor Stepp.
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  <itunes:keywords>econdev, economic development, eco devo, economic development incentives, site selection, corporate location strategy, internal rate of return, economic development strategy, tax abatements, project competitiveness, permitting timelines, site selection consultants, economic development deals</itunes:keywords>
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    <![CDATA[<p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals. </p>

<p>Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller. </p>

<p>The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment.</p>

<p><a href="https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/" rel="nofollow">Like this show? Please leave us a review here</a> — even one sentence helps! </p><p>Special Guest: Taylor Stepp.</p><p>Sponsored By:</p><ul><li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://sitehunt.io">Sitehunt</a>: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sitehunt.io">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!</a></li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a title="Strategic Development Partners" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.strategicdevteam.com/">Strategic Development Partners</a></li><li><a title="Taylor Stepp, CEcD | LinkedIn" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-stepp/">Taylor Stepp, CEcD | LinkedIn</a></li><li><a title="Strategic Development Partners | LinkedIn" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-development-partnersllc/">Strategic Development Partners | LinkedIn</a></li><li><a title="How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment - Area Development" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.areadevelopment.com/corporate-site-selection-factors/q4-2025/how-to-spot-a-community-thats-ready-for-your-investment.shtml">How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment - Area Development</a></li><li><a title="Midwest becomes hotspot for semiconductor manufacturing and supply industries - Area Development" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.areadevelopment.com/advanced-manufacturing/q2-2024/midwest-becomes-hotspot-for-semiconductor-manufacturing-and-supply-industries.shtml">Midwest becomes hotspot for semiconductor manufacturing and supply industries - Area Development</a></li><li><a title="Heritage Drums" rel="nofollow" href="https://heritagedrums.com/">Heritage Drums</a> &mdash; Taylor runs a national drum shop, Heritage Drums, where they rehabilitate and ship drums across the country.</li></ul>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals. </p>

<p>Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller. </p>

<p>The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment.</p>

<p><a href="https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/" rel="nofollow">Like this show? Please leave us a review here</a> — even one sentence helps! </p><p>Special Guest: Taylor Stepp.</p><p>Sponsored By:</p><ul><li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://sitehunt.io">Sitehunt</a>: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sitehunt.io">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!</a></li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a title="Strategic Development Partners" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.strategicdevteam.com/">Strategic Development Partners</a></li><li><a title="Taylor Stepp, CEcD | LinkedIn" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-stepp/">Taylor Stepp, CEcD | LinkedIn</a></li><li><a title="Strategic Development Partners | LinkedIn" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-development-partnersllc/">Strategic Development Partners | LinkedIn</a></li><li><a title="How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment - Area Development" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.areadevelopment.com/corporate-site-selection-factors/q4-2025/how-to-spot-a-community-thats-ready-for-your-investment.shtml">How to Spot a Community That’s Ready for Your Investment - Area Development</a></li><li><a title="Midwest becomes hotspot for semiconductor manufacturing and supply industries - Area Development" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.areadevelopment.com/advanced-manufacturing/q2-2024/midwest-becomes-hotspot-for-semiconductor-manufacturing-and-supply-industries.shtml">Midwest becomes hotspot for semiconductor manufacturing and supply industries - Area Development</a></li><li><a title="Heritage Drums" rel="nofollow" href="https://heritagedrums.com/">Heritage Drums</a> &mdash; Taylor runs a national drum shop, Heritage Drums, where they rehabilitate and ship drums across the country.</li></ul>]]>
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