web01.fireside.fm Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:29:49 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Small Business” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/small%20business Mon, 28 Jul 2025 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 184: The Colorblind Tulip Farmer: Revolutionizing Rural Economic Development with Andrew Miller https://podcast.econdevshow.com/184 825db38d-2e9a-45c5-9c35-f3589eb1a9a9 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 184 The Colorblind Tulip Farmer: Revolutionizing Rural Economic Development with Andrew Miller full Dane Carlson Andrew Miller discusses his journey from economic developer to entrepreneur, explaining how he transitioned from advocating for business development in Skagit County to actually purchasing and operating a tulip farm himself. 22:54 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Andrew Miller, a multi-faceted leader who serves as CEO of both the United Way of Skagit County and Tulip Valley Farms, as well as commissioner at Skagit PUD. Miller shares his unique journey from working at major tech companies like Amazon to returning home to Skagit County as an economic developer, only to eventually become the entrepreneur he had been encouraging others to be. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face when advocating for entrepreneurship and innovation, the resistance to change in established systems, and Miller's decision to "walk the walk" by purchasing a farm business when others wouldn't take the leap. Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Look for gaps in existing industries where innovation can create new business models (like adding U-pick to traditional tulip festivals) Study successful elements from adjacent industries and adapt them to your community's assets Create bridges between urban and rural communities through experiential tourism Focus on finding and selling what's remarkable about your community to people willing to pay for it Combine unexpected elements (like Scottish Highland cows with tulips) to create unique attractions Make agriculture and rural life accessible to urban neighbors who lack farming connections Consider compound risks when developing agritourism ventures (weather for growing AND weather for visitors) Use personal availability and storytelling to create authentic connections with visitors Help passionate people in your community turn their interests into viable businesses Remember that credentials matter less than passion and willingness to learn in entrepreneurship Special Guest: Andrew Miller. econdev, economic development, eco devo, agritourism, rural economic development, tulip farming, U-pick, Skagit Valley, community engagement, agricultural innovation, rural tourism, small business, career transition In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Andrew Miller, a multi-faceted leader who serves as CEO of both the United Way of Skagit County and Tulip Valley Farms, as well as commissioner at Skagit PUD. Miller shares his unique journey from working at major tech companies like Amazon to returning home to Skagit County as an economic developer, only to eventually become the entrepreneur he had been encouraging others to be. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face when advocating for entrepreneurship and innovation, the resistance to change in established systems, and Miller's decision to "walk the walk" by purchasing a farm business when others wouldn't take the leap.

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Look for gaps in existing industries where innovation can create new business models (like adding U-pick to traditional tulip festivals)
  2. Study successful elements from adjacent industries and adapt them to your community's assets
  3. Create bridges between urban and rural communities through experiential tourism
  4. Focus on finding and selling what's remarkable about your community to people willing to pay for it
  5. Combine unexpected elements (like Scottish Highland cows with tulips) to create unique attractions
  6. Make agriculture and rural life accessible to urban neighbors who lack farming connections
  7. Consider compound risks when developing agritourism ventures (weather for growing AND weather for visitors)
  8. Use personal availability and storytelling to create authentic connections with visitors
  9. Help passionate people in your community turn their interests into viable businesses
  10. Remember that credentials matter less than passion and willingness to learn in entrepreneurship

Special Guest: Andrew Miller.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Andrew Miller, a multi-faceted leader who serves as CEO of both the United Way of Skagit County and Tulip Valley Farms, as well as commissioner at Skagit PUD. Miller shares his unique journey from working at major tech companies like Amazon to returning home to Skagit County as an economic developer, only to eventually become the entrepreneur he had been encouraging others to be. The conversation explores the challenges economic developers face when advocating for entrepreneurship and innovation, the resistance to change in established systems, and Miller's decision to "walk the walk" by purchasing a farm business when others wouldn't take the leap.

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Look for gaps in existing industries where innovation can create new business models (like adding U-pick to traditional tulip festivals)
  2. Study successful elements from adjacent industries and adapt them to your community's assets
  3. Create bridges between urban and rural communities through experiential tourism
  4. Focus on finding and selling what's remarkable about your community to people willing to pay for it
  5. Combine unexpected elements (like Scottish Highland cows with tulips) to create unique attractions
  6. Make agriculture and rural life accessible to urban neighbors who lack farming connections
  7. Consider compound risks when developing agritourism ventures (weather for growing AND weather for visitors)
  8. Use personal availability and storytelling to create authentic connections with visitors
  9. Help passionate people in your community turn their interests into viable businesses
  10. Remember that credentials matter less than passion and willingness to learn in entrepreneurship

Special Guest: Andrew Miller.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 140: Transforming Southern Illinois' Economic Development with Deb Barnett https://podcast.econdevshow.com/140 a6d4dca2-6d70-4c8d-8807-57b244b34d57 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 140 Transforming Southern Illinois' Economic Development with Deb Barnett full Dane Carlson Deb Barnett, executive director of SI Now, discusses the organization's regional approach to economic development in Southern Illinois on the Econ Dev Show with host Dane Carlson. 29:42 no In this episode, Dane talks with Deb Barnett, the executive director of SI Now. SI Now is a relatively new regional economic development organization founded in the fall of 2022, serving 17 counties in Southern Illinois. She explains that the organization was created to address the need for a more strategic and collaborative approach to economic development in the region, moving away from the previous model where communities and counties worked in isolation. During the conversation, Barnett highlights SI Now's focus on long-term economic growth and shares insights about their current projects and future plans. She also discusses her involvement in a podcast called "Small Town Big Business," which features interviews with small business owners in Southern Illinois. Barnett emphasizes the importance of storytelling in economic development and expresses optimism about the increasing number of opportunities and projects in the pipeline for the region. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Deb Barnett. Economic development, Southern Illinois, regional collaboration, SI Now, Deb Barnett, rural economy, small business, storytelling, innovation, community partnerships, workforce development, business incubation, strategic growth, local assets, regional marketing, Field Trip Fridays, podcasting, rural revitalization, entrepreneurship, cross-county cooperation In this episode, Dane talks with Deb Barnett, the executive director of SI Now.

SI Now is a relatively new regional economic development organization founded in the fall of 2022, serving 17 counties in Southern Illinois. She explains that the organization was created to address the need for a more strategic and collaborative approach to economic development in the region, moving away from the previous model where communities and counties worked in isolation.

During the conversation, Barnett highlights SI Now's focus on long-term economic growth and shares insights about their current projects and future plans. She also discusses her involvement in a podcast called "Small Town Big Business," which features interviews with small business owners in Southern Illinois. Barnett emphasizes the importance of storytelling in economic development and expresses optimism about the increasing number of opportunities and projects in the pipeline for the region.

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

Special Guest: Deb Barnett.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode, Dane talks with Deb Barnett, the executive director of SI Now.

SI Now is a relatively new regional economic development organization founded in the fall of 2022, serving 17 counties in Southern Illinois. She explains that the organization was created to address the need for a more strategic and collaborative approach to economic development in the region, moving away from the previous model where communities and counties worked in isolation.

During the conversation, Barnett highlights SI Now's focus on long-term economic growth and shares insights about their current projects and future plans. She also discusses her involvement in a podcast called "Small Town Big Business," which features interviews with small business owners in Southern Illinois. Barnett emphasizes the importance of storytelling in economic development and expresses optimism about the increasing number of opportunities and projects in the pipeline for the region.

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

Special Guest: Deb Barnett.

Sponsored By:

Links:

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