web02.fireside.fm Thu, 21 May 2026 18:19:00 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Site Readiness” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/site%20readiness Mon, 11 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 218: What Site Selectors Wish Economic Developers Understood with Mark Williams https://podcast.econdevshow.com/218 162653a8-edd3-4023-b344-1016b73f3ce0 Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 218 What Site Selectors Wish Economic Developers Understood with Mark Williams full Dane Carlson Mark Williams joins Dane Carlson to discuss what 35 years in site selection taught him about corporate decisions, economic development mistakes, deal killers, client expectations, and why time kills projects. 26:51 no <p>In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-williams-15748510/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mark Williams</a>, founder of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-williams-15748510/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Strategic Development Group</a> and author of <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0FNCPFCLD/econdevshow-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Corporate Site Selection and Economic Development: A 35 Year Perspective</a></strong>, about what really happens behind the scenes in site selection. </p> <p>Mark shares lessons from working in state government, building a consulting firm, advising corporate clients, and writing a book that has become both a teaching tool and a business development asset. </p> <p>The conversation covers why economic developers and companies often misunderstand each other, why listening matters more than overloading prospects with information, how time quietly kills deals, what clients really want from consultants and communities, and how technology, AI, virtual meetings, and generational change are reshaping the field without replacing the need for judgment, trust, and walking the site.</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! Special Guests: Dr. Glenn Athey and Mark Williams.</p> econdev, economic development, eco devo, site selection, economic development, corporate decisions, deal killers, time kills deals, client communication, site readiness, incentives, AI and technology, Strategic Development Group In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Mark Williams, founder of Strategic Development Group and author of Corporate Site Selection and Economic Development: A 35 Year Perspective, about what really happens behind the scenes in site selection.

Mark shares lessons from working in state government, building a consulting firm, advising corporate clients, and writing a book that has become both a teaching tool and a business development asset.

The conversation covers why economic developers and companies often misunderstand each other, why listening matters more than overloading prospects with information, how time quietly kills deals, what clients really want from consultants and communities, and how technology, AI, virtual meetings, and generational change are reshaping the field without replacing the need for judgment, trust, and walking the site.

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

Special Guests: Dr. Glenn Athey and Mark Williams.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Mark Williams, founder of Strategic Development Group and author of Corporate Site Selection and Economic Development: A 35 Year Perspective, about what really happens behind the scenes in site selection.

Mark shares lessons from working in state government, building a consulting firm, advising corporate clients, and writing a book that has become both a teaching tool and a business development asset.

The conversation covers why economic developers and companies often misunderstand each other, why listening matters more than overloading prospects with information, how time quietly kills deals, what clients really want from consultants and communities, and how technology, AI, virtual meetings, and generational change are reshaping the field without replacing the need for judgment, trust, and walking the site.

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

Special Guests: Dr. Glenn Athey and Mark Williams.

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 <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</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>Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers</h2> <ol> <li>Create dedicated units focused solely on business relationships within your economic development organization to ensure businesses receive specialized attention.</li> <li>Invest significantly in site readiness programs with dedicated funding to create shovel-ready locations that can immediately accommodate business relocations.</li> <li>Implement a concierge service for permitting to help businesses navigate regulatory processes more efficiently and combat negative perceptions about permitting complexity.</li> <li>Identify and focus on 4-5 key sectors where your region has competitive advantages rather than trying to be everything to everyone.</li> <li>Build regional partnerships with clear roles and responsibilities for business retention, expansion and attraction activities to present a unified front to prospective companies.</li> <li>Bring corporate experience into economic development leadership to better understand and speak the language of business executives.</li> <li>Develop a strategy that balances care for incumbent businesses while positioning your region to attract cutting-edge industries.</li> <li>Create a disciplined financial model to evaluate incentive offers that ensures both the business and the region benefit from each deal.</li> <li>Leverage educational institutions as key partners in workforce development and innovation to create distinct advantages in specific sectors.</li> <li>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.</li> </ol> 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:

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