web02.fireside.fm Thu, 21 May 2026 10:57:31 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Regional Economic Development” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/regional%20economic%20development Mon, 18 May 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 219: The Economic Development Handbook We All Needed with Glenn Athey https://podcast.econdevshow.com/219 d4e55896-a974-49f8-a2e4-0ea0eaa43d05 Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 219 The Economic Development Handbook We All Needed with Glenn Athey full Dane Carlson Dane talks with Dr. Glenn Athey about The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, why economic development is a delivery-focused community practice, and how practitioners can use evidence, strategy, case studies, and curiosity to build stronger local economies. 29:38 no <p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Dr. Glenn Athey, author of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, about what economic developers actually need to know to move from strategy to delivery. </p> <p>Glenn shares how growing up in northeast England during de-industrialization shaped his interest in regional economic development, why he wrote the book he wishes he had at the start of his career, and how practitioners can use international case studies without simply copying someone else’s playbook. </p> <p>The conversation covers action-oriented strategies, evidence that informs decisions instead of burying teams in data, the importance of local capacity, entrepreneurship support that prioritizes high-growth potential, and how sustainability can run through every part of economic development rather than sit off to the side.</p> <p><a href="https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/" target="_blank" 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>Keep a working reference shelf.</strong> Economic development is too broad to know everything cold. Have reliable resources you can dip into before meetings on unfamiliar topics.</li> <li> <strong>Read enough to participate intelligently.</strong> You do not have to become an expert overnight, but you should understand the basics well enough to ask good questions and add value.</li> <li> <strong>Turn strategy into an action plan.</strong> A useful strategy should say what the community will do, what it will keep doing, what happens next, and how success will be measured.</li> <li> <strong>Do not confuse data with analysis.</strong> Dashboards and tables are not the point. Ask, "So what does this mean, and what should we do differently?"</li> <li> <strong>Borrow proven ideas, then localize them.</strong> Most communities do not need to invent something brand new. Study what worked elsewhere, then adapt it to your own economy, assets, and constraints.</li> <li> <strong>Be more curious.</strong> Visit the neighboring community with the strong business center. Ask how their program works. Learn from people who are already doing the thing well.</li> <li> <strong>Know your community's real capacity.</strong> Big ambitions require people, skills, funding, and institutional ability. A plan that ignores delivery capacity is likely to become shelf art.</li> <li> <strong>Prioritize business support where you can add the most value.</strong> Lifestyle businesses, high-growth startups, exporters, and innovation-driven firms may all need help, but they do not all produce the same economic impact.</li> <li> <strong>Connect the functions.</strong> Investment attraction depends on workforce, sites, infrastructure, universities, entrepreneurship, planning, and policy. The best economic developers see how the pieces fit together.</li> <li> <strong>Build confidence across the whole field.</strong> Economic development touches strategy, business growth, workforce, sites, investment, inclusion, planning, and more. You do not need to know every topic perfectly, but you do need enough range to recognize how the pieces connect. Special Guest: Dr. Glenn Athey.</li> </ol> econdev, economic development, eco devo, economic development, regional economic development, local economic development, strategy, action plans, evidence-based decisions, de-industrialization, entrepreneurship support, sustainable economic development, investment attraction In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Dr. Glenn Athey, author of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, about what economic developers actually need to know to move from strategy to delivery.

Glenn shares how growing up in northeast England during de-industrialization shaped his interest in regional economic development, why he wrote the book he wishes he had at the start of his career, and how practitioners can use international case studies without simply copying someone else’s playbook.

The conversation covers action-oriented strategies, evidence that informs decisions instead of burying teams in data, the importance of local capacity, entrepreneurship support that prioritizes high-growth potential, and how sustainability can run through every part of economic development rather than sit off to the side.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Keep a working reference shelf. Economic development is too broad to know everything cold. Have reliable resources you can dip into before meetings on unfamiliar topics.
  2. Read enough to participate intelligently. You do not have to become an expert overnight, but you should understand the basics well enough to ask good questions and add value.
  3. Turn strategy into an action plan. A useful strategy should say what the community will do, what it will keep doing, what happens next, and how success will be measured.
  4. Do not confuse data with analysis. Dashboards and tables are not the point. Ask, "So what does this mean, and what should we do differently?"
  5. Borrow proven ideas, then localize them. Most communities do not need to invent something brand new. Study what worked elsewhere, then adapt it to your own economy, assets, and constraints.
  6. Be more curious. Visit the neighboring community with the strong business center. Ask how their program works. Learn from people who are already doing the thing well.
  7. Know your community's real capacity. Big ambitions require people, skills, funding, and institutional ability. A plan that ignores delivery capacity is likely to become shelf art.
  8. Prioritize business support where you can add the most value. Lifestyle businesses, high-growth startups, exporters, and innovation-driven firms may all need help, but they do not all produce the same economic impact.
  9. Connect the functions. Investment attraction depends on workforce, sites, infrastructure, universities, entrepreneurship, planning, and policy. The best economic developers see how the pieces fit together.
  10. Build confidence across the whole field. Economic development touches strategy, business growth, workforce, sites, investment, inclusion, planning, and more. You do not need to know every topic perfectly, but you do need enough range to recognize how the pieces connect.

Special Guest: Dr. Glenn Athey.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Dr. Glenn Athey, author of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, about what economic developers actually need to know to move from strategy to delivery.

Glenn shares how growing up in northeast England during de-industrialization shaped his interest in regional economic development, why he wrote the book he wishes he had at the start of his career, and how practitioners can use international case studies without simply copying someone else’s playbook.

The conversation covers action-oriented strategies, evidence that informs decisions instead of burying teams in data, the importance of local capacity, entrepreneurship support that prioritizes high-growth potential, and how sustainability can run through every part of economic development rather than sit off to the side.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Keep a working reference shelf. Economic development is too broad to know everything cold. Have reliable resources you can dip into before meetings on unfamiliar topics.
  2. Read enough to participate intelligently. You do not have to become an expert overnight, but you should understand the basics well enough to ask good questions and add value.
  3. Turn strategy into an action plan. A useful strategy should say what the community will do, what it will keep doing, what happens next, and how success will be measured.
  4. Do not confuse data with analysis. Dashboards and tables are not the point. Ask, "So what does this mean, and what should we do differently?"
  5. Borrow proven ideas, then localize them. Most communities do not need to invent something brand new. Study what worked elsewhere, then adapt it to your own economy, assets, and constraints.
  6. Be more curious. Visit the neighboring community with the strong business center. Ask how their program works. Learn from people who are already doing the thing well.
  7. Know your community's real capacity. Big ambitions require people, skills, funding, and institutional ability. A plan that ignores delivery capacity is likely to become shelf art.
  8. Prioritize business support where you can add the most value. Lifestyle businesses, high-growth startups, exporters, and innovation-driven firms may all need help, but they do not all produce the same economic impact.
  9. Connect the functions. Investment attraction depends on workforce, sites, infrastructure, universities, entrepreneurship, planning, and policy. The best economic developers see how the pieces fit together.
  10. Build confidence across the whole field. Economic development touches strategy, business growth, workforce, sites, investment, inclusion, planning, and more. You do not need to know every topic perfectly, but you do need enough range to recognize how the pieces connect.

Special Guest: Dr. Glenn Athey.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 205: No Product, No Project in Central Texas with Mike Kamerlander https://podcast.econdevshow.com/205 dcc6918f-4e24-4f19-9666-91b88a61c05e Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 205 No Product, No Project in Central Texas with Mike Kamerlander full Dane Carlson A practical conversation with Mike Kamerlander, President and CEO of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership, on why product readiness, regional collaboration, and predictable processes are shaping Central Texas’s next growth cycle. 27:50 no <p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Mike Kamerlander, President and CEO of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership, to discuss what economic development looks like inside one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas. </p> <p>Drawing from HCEDP’s recent Economic Outlook Event, the conversation explores why Central Texas continues to attract companies, how cities, counties, and private businesses are investing through uncertainty, and what shifting project timelines signal for 2026. Mike also shares lessons from leading a two-county, ten-city partnership, why “no product, no project” still holds true, and how speed, predictability, and engagement quietly determine which regions win.</p> <p><em>FYI, "No Product, No Project" is a registered trademark of <a href="https://garnereconomics.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Garner Economics LLC</a>.</em></p> <p><a href="https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/" target="_blank" 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>Product readiness matters more than marketing language.</li> <li>Speed and predictability often outweigh incentive packages.</li> <li>Regional collaboration expands capacity without diluting local wins.</li> <li>Growth planning must stay ahead of infrastructure demand.</li> <li>Economic outlook events are tools for alignment, not just forecasting.</li> <li>Accurate, current site information prevents deal-killing surprises.</li> <li>Cities and counties should be treated as the primary customer.</li> <li>Engagement across private industry strengthens long-term outcomes.</li> <li>Development processes should be reviewed continuously, not periodically.</li> <li>Capital on the sidelines eventually moves. Be ready when it does. Special Guest: Mike Kamerlander.</li> </ol> econdev, economic development, eco devo, Central Texas, regional economic development, Hays County, Caldwell County, economic outlook, shovel-ready sites, speed to market, product readiness, infrastructure planning, workforce corridor In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Mike Kamerlander, President and CEO of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership, to discuss what economic development looks like inside one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas.

Drawing from HCEDP’s recent Economic Outlook Event, the conversation explores why Central Texas continues to attract companies, how cities, counties, and private businesses are investing through uncertainty, and what shifting project timelines signal for 2026. Mike also shares lessons from leading a two-county, ten-city partnership, why “no product, no project” still holds true, and how speed, predictability, and engagement quietly determine which regions win.

FYI, "No Product, No Project" is a registered trademark of Garner Economics LLC.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Product readiness matters more than marketing language.
  2. Speed and predictability often outweigh incentive packages.
  3. Regional collaboration expands capacity without diluting local wins.
  4. Growth planning must stay ahead of infrastructure demand.
  5. Economic outlook events are tools for alignment, not just forecasting.
  6. Accurate, current site information prevents deal-killing surprises.
  7. Cities and counties should be treated as the primary customer.
  8. Engagement across private industry strengthens long-term outcomes.
  9. Development processes should be reviewed continuously, not periodically.
  10. Capital on the sidelines eventually moves. Be ready when it does.

Special Guest: Mike Kamerlander.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Mike Kamerlander, President and CEO of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership, to discuss what economic development looks like inside one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas.

Drawing from HCEDP’s recent Economic Outlook Event, the conversation explores why Central Texas continues to attract companies, how cities, counties, and private businesses are investing through uncertainty, and what shifting project timelines signal for 2026. Mike also shares lessons from leading a two-county, ten-city partnership, why “no product, no project” still holds true, and how speed, predictability, and engagement quietly determine which regions win.

FYI, "No Product, No Project" is a registered trademark of Garner Economics LLC.

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

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Product readiness matters more than marketing language.
  2. Speed and predictability often outweigh incentive packages.
  3. Regional collaboration expands capacity without diluting local wins.
  4. Growth planning must stay ahead of infrastructure demand.
  5. Economic outlook events are tools for alignment, not just forecasting.
  6. Accurate, current site information prevents deal-killing surprises.
  7. Cities and counties should be treated as the primary customer.
  8. Engagement across private industry strengthens long-term outcomes.
  9. Development processes should be reviewed continuously, not periodically.
  10. Capital on the sidelines eventually moves. Be ready when it does.

Special Guest: Mike Kamerlander.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>