web01.fireside.fm Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:36:15 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Stakeholder Engagement” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/stakeholder%20engagement Mon, 21 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 183: Small-Scale Manufacturing as Community Development Strategy with Ilana Preuss https://podcast.econdevshow.com/183 ea83373e-c7e8-4624-b51e-c555c3017102 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 183 Small-Scale Manufacturing as Community Development Strategy with Ilana Preuss full Dane Carlson Dane Carlson reconnects with Ilana Preuss, founder of Recast Your City, to discuss how economic developers can transform communities by focusing on small-scale manufacturing and engaging directly with local business owners and residents. 31:21 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson welcomes back Ilana Preuss, founder and CEO of Recast City, for a follow-up conversation four years after her initial appearance on the show. Preuss shares insights on how economic development has evolved and discusses her methodology for helping communities identify and support small-scale manufacturing businesses. The conversation explores how economic developers can create meaningful change with relatively modest investments by focusing on local assets, engaging directly with community members and business owners, and implementing targeted strategies that respond to actual community needs rather than pursuing expensive business recruitment projects. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Engage directly with small-scale manufacturing business owners to understand their specific needs and challenges before creating programs. Focus on modest, targeted investments ($10K-$20K) rather than expensive business recruitment projects that may not address community needs. Identify and leverage existing local assets and manufacturing businesses already present in your community. Meet with property owners to understand real estate availability and constraints for small manufacturing businesses. Analyze community feedback to prioritize actions that will create the biggest impact based on local goals and beneficiaries. Create short-term wins that build momentum toward longer-term, more complex development projects. Thread the line between community assets, needs, and goals to develop effective priority strategies. Focus on de-risking economic development investments by ensuring projects respond to actual community needs. Build "sticky" communities by creating places where interesting commercial activity takes place and people want to be. Use systematic methods to gather information from stakeholders and translate that into actionable development strategies. Special Guest: Ilana Preuss. econdev, economic development, eco devo, small-scale manufacturing, community development, economic development, local assets, stakeholder engagement, business recruitment, investment strategy, community needs, property owners, neighborhood revitalization In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson welcomes back Ilana Preuss, founder and CEO of Recast City, for a follow-up conversation four years after her initial appearance on the show. Preuss shares insights on how economic development has evolved and discusses her methodology for helping communities identify and support small-scale manufacturing businesses. The conversation explores how economic developers can create meaningful change with relatively modest investments by focusing on local assets, engaging directly with community members and business owners, and implementing targeted strategies that respond to actual community needs rather than pursuing expensive business recruitment projects.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Engage directly with small-scale manufacturing business owners to understand their specific needs and challenges before creating programs.
  2. Focus on modest, targeted investments ($10K-$20K) rather than expensive business recruitment projects that may not address community needs.
  3. Identify and leverage existing local assets and manufacturing businesses already present in your community.
  4. Meet with property owners to understand real estate availability and constraints for small manufacturing businesses.
  5. Analyze community feedback to prioritize actions that will create the biggest impact based on local goals and beneficiaries.
  6. Create short-term wins that build momentum toward longer-term, more complex development projects.
  7. Thread the line between community assets, needs, and goals to develop effective priority strategies.
  8. Focus on de-risking economic development investments by ensuring projects respond to actual community needs.
  9. Build "sticky" communities by creating places where interesting commercial activity takes place and people want to be.
  10. Use systematic methods to gather information from stakeholders and translate that into actionable development strategies.

Special Guest: Ilana Preuss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson welcomes back Ilana Preuss, founder and CEO of Recast City, for a follow-up conversation four years after her initial appearance on the show. Preuss shares insights on how economic development has evolved and discusses her methodology for helping communities identify and support small-scale manufacturing businesses. The conversation explores how economic developers can create meaningful change with relatively modest investments by focusing on local assets, engaging directly with community members and business owners, and implementing targeted strategies that respond to actual community needs rather than pursuing expensive business recruitment projects.

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

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Engage directly with small-scale manufacturing business owners to understand their specific needs and challenges before creating programs.
  2. Focus on modest, targeted investments ($10K-$20K) rather than expensive business recruitment projects that may not address community needs.
  3. Identify and leverage existing local assets and manufacturing businesses already present in your community.
  4. Meet with property owners to understand real estate availability and constraints for small manufacturing businesses.
  5. Analyze community feedback to prioritize actions that will create the biggest impact based on local goals and beneficiaries.
  6. Create short-term wins that build momentum toward longer-term, more complex development projects.
  7. Thread the line between community assets, needs, and goals to develop effective priority strategies.
  8. Focus on de-risking economic development investments by ensuring projects respond to actual community needs.
  9. Build "sticky" communities by creating places where interesting commercial activity takes place and people want to be.
  10. Use systematic methods to gather information from stakeholders and translate that into actionable development strategies.

Special Guest: Ilana Preuss.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 167: Digital Marketing Strategies for EDOs with Alissa Sklar https://podcast.econdevshow.com/167 bdb32be9-06c8-4a1d-b6c3-53be12ac751d Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 167 Digital Marketing Strategies for EDOs with Alissa Sklar full Dane Carlson Marketing expert Alissa Sklar shares practical digital strategies for economic development organizations with limited resources. 28:12 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with marketing consultant Alissa Sklar about effective digital strategies for economic development organizations. They discuss leveraging AI tools while maintaining an authentic voice, website management tips for small EDOs, content amplification through LinkedIn, and how to build partnerships with educational institutions. Alissa offers practical advice for economic developers wearing multiple hats, emphasizing how to maximize impact with limited resources and time. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Actionable Takeaways Use AI tools like ChatGPT to draft content, but always rewrite it to match your organization's voice and verify all information. Amplify LinkedIn posts by having your director and board members repost content with additional commentary to significantly increase reach. Define clear objectives for all marketing content (website visits, downloads, event attendance) before creation. Avoid using auto-translate features that might make your organization appear to have capabilities it doesn't. Partner with local universities or community colleges for mutually beneficial marketing projects. Repurpose and leverage the same content across different platforms to maximize efficiency. Develop a consistent hashtag strategy for your organization's social media posts. Focus website content on what visitors need rather than internal organizational structures. Build relationships with educational institutions to connect with future business leaders. For small EDOs, prioritize quality website content over trying to maintain presence on too many platforms. Special Guest: Alissa Sklar. econdev, economic development, eco devo, marketing, economic development, website management, content creation, LinkedIn, AI tools, small EDOs, content amplification, authenticity, stakeholder engagement In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with marketing consultant Alissa Sklar about effective digital strategies for economic development organizations. They discuss leveraging AI tools while maintaining an authentic voice, website management tips for small EDOs, content amplification through LinkedIn, and how to build partnerships with educational institutions. Alissa offers practical advice for economic developers wearing multiple hats, emphasizing how to maximize impact with limited resources and time.

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

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Use AI tools like ChatGPT to draft content, but always rewrite it to match your organization's voice and verify all information.
  2. Amplify LinkedIn posts by having your director and board members repost content with additional commentary to significantly increase reach.
  3. Define clear objectives for all marketing content (website visits, downloads, event attendance) before creation.
  4. Avoid using auto-translate features that might make your organization appear to have capabilities it doesn't.
  5. Partner with local universities or community colleges for mutually beneficial marketing projects.
  6. Repurpose and leverage the same content across different platforms to maximize efficiency.
  7. Develop a consistent hashtag strategy for your organization's social media posts.
  8. Focus website content on what visitors need rather than internal organizational structures.
  9. Build relationships with educational institutions to connect with future business leaders.
  10. For small EDOs, prioritize quality website content over trying to maintain presence on too many platforms.

Special Guest: Alissa Sklar.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with marketing consultant Alissa Sklar about effective digital strategies for economic development organizations. They discuss leveraging AI tools while maintaining an authentic voice, website management tips for small EDOs, content amplification through LinkedIn, and how to build partnerships with educational institutions. Alissa offers practical advice for economic developers wearing multiple hats, emphasizing how to maximize impact with limited resources and time.

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

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Use AI tools like ChatGPT to draft content, but always rewrite it to match your organization's voice and verify all information.
  2. Amplify LinkedIn posts by having your director and board members repost content with additional commentary to significantly increase reach.
  3. Define clear objectives for all marketing content (website visits, downloads, event attendance) before creation.
  4. Avoid using auto-translate features that might make your organization appear to have capabilities it doesn't.
  5. Partner with local universities or community colleges for mutually beneficial marketing projects.
  6. Repurpose and leverage the same content across different platforms to maximize efficiency.
  7. Develop a consistent hashtag strategy for your organization's social media posts.
  8. Focus website content on what visitors need rather than internal organizational structures.
  9. Build relationships with educational institutions to connect with future business leaders.
  10. For small EDOs, prioritize quality website content over trying to maintain presence on too many platforms.

Special Guest: Alissa Sklar.

Sponsored By:

Links:

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