app01 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:10:16 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Project Readiness” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/project%20readiness Mon, 22 Jun 2026 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 224: Building Trust Before Building Buildings with Janae Stark https://podcast.econdevshow.com/224 7857ddb0-bb42-4f84-8b4e-240d32943fc2 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 224 Building Trust Before Building Buildings with Janae Stark full Dane Carlson Janae Stark explains how Washington’s Community Economic Revitalization Board helps rural communities and tribes build the public infrastructure, relationships, and project readiness needed to support jobs, private investment, and long-term local growth. 25:50 no <p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane talks with Janae Stark about the Community Economic Revitalization Board’s “right project, right time” approach to rural economic development, from planning and project development to infrastructure financing, construction timelines, and what happens when projects go sideways. </p> <p>Janae shares how CERB works with communities and federally recognized tribes in Washington State, why trust and relationship-building matter as much as funding, and how infrastructure like buildings, roads, utilities, and rural broadband can unlock opportunity for small communities. </p> <p>The conversation also explores the less visible work behind successful projects, the importance of helping communities avoid bad bets, and why economic developers need spaces to learn from one another instead of reinventing the wheel alone.</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><strong>Start with project readiness, not the application.</strong> Before pursuing funding, work backward from the business or community timeline and identify permits, environmental review, match funding, private investment, and approvals needed to get to contract.</li> <li><strong>Treat planning as economic development work.</strong> Use planning funds and community outreach to clarify what the community actually wants to become, not just what project happens to be available.</li> <li><strong>Build relationships before things go wrong.</strong> Communities are more likely to call early when a business partner pulls out or a project changes if they already trust you.</li> <li><strong>Be willing to coach communities toward the right funder.</strong> If your program is not the best fit, help the community find the organization or funding source that can get them to yes.</li> <li><strong>Do not confuse urgency with readiness.</strong> A project can look exciting on paper but still be too risky if the private partner, repayment plan, permits, or timeline are not solid.</li> <li><strong>Ask whether the infrastructure can support more than one possible business.</strong> Projects are safer when the building, road, utility, or site improvement can be reused or marketed to another company if the original deal falls apart.</li> <li><strong>Help elected officials and board members understand the invisible work.</strong> Explain the project development, relationship management, and risk reduction that happen long before a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting.</li> <li><strong>Recognize that different infrastructure has different economic impacts.</strong> Buildings, roads, water, sewer, and electricity may directly enable business expansion, while broadband may improve community competitiveness in broader, less immediately visible ways.</li> <li><strong>Create peer networks for practitioners.</strong> New economic developers need places to ask basic questions, decode acronyms, find funding calendars, and learn from communities that have already solved similar problems.</li> <li><strong>Show up and listen locally.</strong> Especially for people new to economic development, attending community meetings, listening to difficult voices, validating concerns, and asking experienced practitioners for help are essential parts of learning the work. Special Guest: Janea Stark.</li> </ol> econdev, economic development, eco devo, rural economic development, public infrastructure, project readiness, Community Economic Revitalization Board, federally recognized tribes, private investment, job creation, rural broadband, infrastructure funding, community trust In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane talks with Janae Stark about the Community Economic Revitalization Board’s “right project, right time” approach to rural economic development, from planning and project development to infrastructure financing, construction timelines, and what happens when projects go sideways.

Janae shares how CERB works with communities and federally recognized tribes in Washington State, why trust and relationship-building matter as much as funding, and how infrastructure like buildings, roads, utilities, and rural broadband can unlock opportunity for small communities.

The conversation also explores the less visible work behind successful projects, the importance of helping communities avoid bad bets, and why economic developers need spaces to learn from one another instead of reinventing the wheel alone.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Start with project readiness, not the application. Before pursuing funding, work backward from the business or community timeline and identify permits, environmental review, match funding, private investment, and approvals needed to get to contract.
  2. Treat planning as economic development work. Use planning funds and community outreach to clarify what the community actually wants to become, not just what project happens to be available.
  3. Build relationships before things go wrong. Communities are more likely to call early when a business partner pulls out or a project changes if they already trust you.
  4. Be willing to coach communities toward the right funder. If your program is not the best fit, help the community find the organization or funding source that can get them to yes.
  5. Do not confuse urgency with readiness. A project can look exciting on paper but still be too risky if the private partner, repayment plan, permits, or timeline are not solid.
  6. Ask whether the infrastructure can support more than one possible business. Projects are safer when the building, road, utility, or site improvement can be reused or marketed to another company if the original deal falls apart.
  7. Help elected officials and board members understand the invisible work. Explain the project development, relationship management, and risk reduction that happen long before a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting.
  8. Recognize that different infrastructure has different economic impacts. Buildings, roads, water, sewer, and electricity may directly enable business expansion, while broadband may improve community competitiveness in broader, less immediately visible ways.
  9. Create peer networks for practitioners. New economic developers need places to ask basic questions, decode acronyms, find funding calendars, and learn from communities that have already solved similar problems.
  10. Show up and listen locally. Especially for people new to economic development, attending community meetings, listening to difficult voices, validating concerns, and asking experienced practitioners for help are essential parts of learning the work.

Special Guest: Janea Stark.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane talks with Janae Stark about the Community Economic Revitalization Board’s “right project, right time” approach to rural economic development, from planning and project development to infrastructure financing, construction timelines, and what happens when projects go sideways.

Janae shares how CERB works with communities and federally recognized tribes in Washington State, why trust and relationship-building matter as much as funding, and how infrastructure like buildings, roads, utilities, and rural broadband can unlock opportunity for small communities.

The conversation also explores the less visible work behind successful projects, the importance of helping communities avoid bad bets, and why economic developers need spaces to learn from one another instead of reinventing the wheel alone.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Start with project readiness, not the application. Before pursuing funding, work backward from the business or community timeline and identify permits, environmental review, match funding, private investment, and approvals needed to get to contract.
  2. Treat planning as economic development work. Use planning funds and community outreach to clarify what the community actually wants to become, not just what project happens to be available.
  3. Build relationships before things go wrong. Communities are more likely to call early when a business partner pulls out or a project changes if they already trust you.
  4. Be willing to coach communities toward the right funder. If your program is not the best fit, help the community find the organization or funding source that can get them to yes.
  5. Do not confuse urgency with readiness. A project can look exciting on paper but still be too risky if the private partner, repayment plan, permits, or timeline are not solid.
  6. Ask whether the infrastructure can support more than one possible business. Projects are safer when the building, road, utility, or site improvement can be reused or marketed to another company if the original deal falls apart.
  7. Help elected officials and board members understand the invisible work. Explain the project development, relationship management, and risk reduction that happen long before a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting.
  8. Recognize that different infrastructure has different economic impacts. Buildings, roads, water, sewer, and electricity may directly enable business expansion, while broadband may improve community competitiveness in broader, less immediately visible ways.
  9. Create peer networks for practitioners. New economic developers need places to ask basic questions, decode acronyms, find funding calendars, and learn from communities that have already solved similar problems.
  10. Show up and listen locally. Especially for people new to economic development, attending community meetings, listening to difficult voices, validating concerns, and asking experienced practitioners for help are essential parts of learning the work.

Special Guest: Janea Stark.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>