Christy explains how decades of strategic spending on quality of place, infrastructure, and people have reshaped the city’s trajectory, enabled major wins like hosting Olympic events, and strengthened key industries such as aerospace, energy, and life sciences.

The conversation also explores the power of business leadership engagement, the growing role of data and AI in economic development, and practical advice for communities looking to unlock their own growth.

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10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Bundle major projects into a single, clear vision and take it to voters as one package.
2. Avoid debt when possible and tie project execution directly to collected revenue.
3. Invest consistently in quality of place, not just incentives or recruitment.
4. Engage top CEOs as active partners, not just passive supporters.
5. Build long-term strategies that evolve with community needs over decades.
6. Use data continuously to reassess competitive positioning and refine strategy.
7. Align economic development, tourism, and community development under one structure when possible.
8. Focus on expanding existing industries and assets, not just chasing new ones.
9. Leverage anchor institutions to guide sector strategy and investment.
10. Treat community engagement as part of both planning and execution, not just a checkbox.

Special Guest: Christy Gillenwater.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Christy Gillenwater | LinkedIn
• Christy Gillenwater (@CAGillenwater) / X
• Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't Hardcover by Jim Collins — Christy's favorite book: His focus on "Level 5" leaders... prioritizing the organization - in our case also our community's - success over personal gain. Prioritizing getting the right people on the bus then in the right seats on the bus. The Hedgehog concept - applies for organizations and for communities.

Tim explains how Aberdeen leverages entrepreneurship, regional workforce draw, and value-added agriculture to build one of the most diverse micropolitan economies in the U.S. The conversation dives into practical tools like revolving loan funds, shovel-ready site development, and tight-knit community coordination, along with lessons learned from winning and losing projects.

Tim also shares how rural economic developers must wear many hats, from childcare advocacy to housing and workforce development, and why knowing your limits and leaning into your strengths is key to long-term success.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Build your own toolbox early - Start small with tools like a revolving loan fund. Even modest contributions compound into real leverage over time.
2. Have product ready before the prospect shows up - Shovel-ready sites win deals. If you're waiting until an RFI arrives, you're already behind.
3. Sell your labor shed, not just your city limits - Expand your workforce story to include the full commuting region, not just population within city boundaries.
4. Be honest about fit upfront - Disqualify bad-fit projects early. It saves time, builds credibility, and focuses your effort on winnable deals.
5. Use speed as a competitive advantage - Quick answers, quick coordination, and quick decisions often beat larger incentive packages.
6. Coordinate like one team, not multiple agencies - Eliminate friction between city, county, utilities, and partners so companies feel like there's "no wrong door."
7. Invest in local companies, not just recruitment - Expansions from existing businesses can absorb sites faster and more reliably than outside recruitment.
8. Treat workforce, housing, and childcare as core infrastructure - These are not side issues. They directly determine whether companies can hire and grow.
9. Lean into what you actually do well - Don't try to win every project. Focus on industries and company sizes that match your real strengths.
10. Own the outcome, even when you lose - Some deals fall apart for reasons outside your control. Learn what you can, adjust where possible, and keep moving.

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Special Guest: Tim Hanigan.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Tim Hanigan | LinkedIn
• Aberdeen Development Corporation | South Dakota
• Properties | Aberdeen Development Corporation
• Aberdeen Development Corporation | LinkedIn
• Aberdeen Development Corporation | Facebook
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink — "Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink is my favorite book because the core idea, which taking full responsibility for outcomes, fits perfectly with leadership in a rural community. In smaller towns, there’s no one else to blame and no one else coming to fix things for you. If something isn’t working, you own it and you figure it out."

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10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Treat workforce development as core infrastructure, not a support function.
2. Engage community colleges early, not after a project announcement.
3. Promote customized training programs aggressively to prospects and existing employers.
4. Use pre-hire assessments to reduce employer risk on major projects.
5. Encourage employers, even competitors, to collaborate on shared talent needs.
6. Leverage apprenticeship programs beyond manufacturing into healthcare, construction, and trades.
7. Think regionally, not jurisdiction by jurisdiction, when building talent pipelines.
8. Repurpose successful training models across industries where skills overlap.
9. Break down silos between workforce, small business, and economic development teams.
10. Communicate these resources constantly because most businesses do not know they exist.

Special Guest: John Loyack.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• NCEdge | NC Community Colleges - NCCCS
• John C. Loyack | LinkedIn
• N.C. Community College System Reports Strong Year for Flagship NCEdge Customized Training Program
• Exclusive | Aerospace Startup JetZero to Start Building Futuristic Planes in North Carolina - WSJ
• How community colleges are fueling N.C.’s workforce, with John Loyack

Molly shares how uniting economic development, downtown revitalization, tourism, and the chamber under one strategic umbrella helped the city align its vision and accelerate growth. From transforming a once-quiet airfield into a future industrial hub, to building momentum in the Animal Health Corridor and nurturing homegrown startups, Molly reveals the creative thinking and community grit driving Topeka forward.

Her story offers powerful lessons for any economic developer aiming to build sustainable, people-centered progress in their community.

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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Build coalitions that outlast personalities. Lasting economic momentum comes from strong systems, not single champions. Create structures that unite business, government, and community voices under shared priorities that continue beyond individual leaders.
2. Treat your community as your product. Successful economic developers are storytellers and brand builders. Invest in placemaking, amenities, and perception as deliberately as you do in incentive packages and infrastructure.
3. Leverage what already works. Identify your city's natural strengths--industry clusters, geographic advantages, or workforce skills--and double down on them. Sustainable growth often comes from amplifying existing assets, not chasing trends.
4. Make collaboration your default setting. Align chambers, tourism groups, and EDOs so they speak with one voice. Shared data, messaging, and strategy save resources and multiply your impact.
5. Blend local grit with global reach. Topeka's partnership with Plug and Play shows how even smaller markets can attract international innovation by thinking globally while staying true to local identity.
6. Focus on people as much as projects. Workforce, childcare, housing, and livability are no longer "supporting factors" but central pillars of competitiveness. Put people at the center of every initiative.
7. Tell your story relentlessly. Economic development is half execution and half narrative. Share wins, celebrate progress, and communicate constantly to reshape how residents and outsiders view your community.
8. Simplify your strategy to amplify impact. Broad plans can dilute focus. Concentrate on a few bold goals that your team and partners can rally around, and measure success through consistent, visible progress.
9. Encourage entrepreneurship as a civic value. Support for small businesses, startups, and innovation hubs builds resilience and broadens economic opportunity across every layer of the local economy.
10. Keep learning, listening, and adapting. The best economic developers are curious. Study other regions, borrow ideas shamelessly, invite new perspectives, and stay flexible as industries and demographics evolve.

Special Guest: Molly Howey.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Molly Howey, CEcD | LinkedIn
• Greater Topeka Partnership: Overview | LinkedIn
• Greater Topeka Partnership | Instagram

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Ten Actionable Takeaways

1. Consider integrating workforce development and economic development under one organizational structure to reduce friction and align goals.
2. Modernize perceptions of manufacturing by highlighting how today's industrial jobs offer sustainable careers without requiring advanced degrees.
3. Create flexible spaces like pop-up opportunities for businesses not ready to commit to permanent locations.
4. Recognize the unique challenges of attracting grocery stores and develop targeted strategies for food access in underserved areas.
5. Leverage social media (like Instagram) and accessible communication channels to connect with community members and businesses.
6. Balance preservation of industrial/waterfront spaces with the need for evolution to meet modern economic needs.
7. Build strategic partnerships that enhance both economic opportunity and quality of life for residents.
8. Develop demonstration projects that showcase how traditional industries are transforming for the future.
9. Consider how your personal and professional background, even if unconventional, brings valuable perspective to economic development work.
10. Create open channels of communication between your executive team and the public to foster engagement and collaboration.

Special Guest: Lindsay Greene.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Brooklyn Navy Yard
• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation | LinkedIn
• Brooklyn Navy Yard (@BklynNavyYard) / X
• Brooklyn Navy Yard (@bklynnavyyard) • Instagram
• Alumni Spotlight: Lindsay Greene '11 - YouTube
• Brooklyn Navy Yard CEO Lindsay Greene on keeping innovation in NYC | Crain's New York Business

Sadie shares insights about her region's economic landscape, including the surprising prevalence of small manufacturers and agricultural businesses that often goes unnoticed.

They discuss the challenges of workforce development, the advantages of a combined chamber-economic development approach, and the importance of understanding local politics and stakeholder dynamics.

As a long-time listener of the podcast before becoming a guest, Sadie offers valuable perspective on regional economic development strategies and the shared challenges that unite economic developers across different communities.

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Study the layout of your community's stakeholders, including their biases and politics, to identify which challenges you can overcome and which you should work around.
2. Recognize that most economic developers face similar challenges with boards, communities, and regional impacts - you're not alone.
3. Leverage the complementary strengths of chamber of commerce and economic development functions when possible.
4. Address workforce issues by coordinating efforts across regions rather than trying to solve everything at the local level.
5. Challenge misconceptions about your region by actively showcasing lesser-known economic assets like small manufacturers.
6. Connect local economic development priorities with state-level initiatives around talent attraction, childcare, and housing development.
7. Network with other economic developers to validate your experiences and gather new approaches to common challenges.
8. Consider how to tailor workforce programming specifically for chamber members while making entrepreneurship services broadly available.
9. Identify early in your planning process which obstacles can be overcome and which need to be circumvented.
10. Use podcasts and other learning resources to continuously build your economic development knowledge, especially in areas outside your expertise.

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Special Guest: Sadie Howell.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Sadie Howell | LinkedIn
• Envision Greater Fond du Lac
• Sadie Vander Velde, Envision, Discusses FDL Economy, Manufacturing, Future + More | WiLLcast Ep. 43 - YouTube
• 40 Under 40 2023 Honoree: Sadie Vander Velde | 40 Under 40 | insightonbusiness.com
• Happy International Women's Day! Here are 8 Fond du Lac female leaders
• e-Edition | insightonbusiness.com
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, 20th Anniversary Edition: Lencioni, Patrick M.: 9780787960759: Amazon.com: Books

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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Take fresh looks at existing assets - they might be more valuable than you think
2. Focus on building complete ecosystems including housing, childcare, and healthcare
3. Leverage your location's unique advantages in infrastructure and connectivity
4. Develop strong workforce pipelines through youth apprenticeships
5. Create strategic plans that align all community assets
6. Build relationships with both large and small businesses
7. Focus on quick turnaround times for business requests
8. Highlight quality of life advantages for workforce attraction
9. Develop strong public-private partnerships
10. Invest in sustainable infrastructure like green energy for long-term growth

Special Guest: Dr. Ronda Sauget.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Dr Ronda Sauget, MBA | LinkedIn
• Coles Together
• Greater Value in Site Selection in Tertiary Markets | Trade and Industry Development
• Coles Together (@colestogether) • Instagram
• Coles Together | Facebook

He details Indiana's comprehensive approach to business development, including sales enablement, lead generation, site selection, and ongoing business support. Herr emphasizes the importance of high-touch engagement and walking businesses through each step of their journey, highlighting how modern economic development requires a full-experience approach to ensure long-term success.

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Ten Actionable Insights for Economic Developers

1. Develop a high-touch, full-experience model for business engagement
2. Focus beyond just selling land - create comprehensive support systems
3. Build strong introduction networks for new businesses
4. Maintain detailed knowledge of available sites and inventory
5. Create strategic approaches for modern site selection needs
6. Implement business retention and expansion programs
7. Develop clear online resources while maintaining personal connections
8. Focus on long-term business success rather than just initial attraction
9. Create systems to support projects of all sizes, not just large ones
10. Establish clear communication channels for business support needs

Five Notable Quotes

• "Economic development is not an easy game and glad that somebody like you's bringing a little bit of insight to folks that may not have a peek into what we do on a day to day."
• "There's more to it than just selling them a piece of land."
• "You bring a business into your community, and you want them to succeed."
• "Like you'd rather not just be looked at as a sale or a metric."
• "Walking them through step by step, introducing them to who they need to be introduced to, opening doors that are closed to them, all those kinds of things."

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Indiana Economic Development Corporation
• Gov. Holcomb, IEDC continue record-breaking economic momentum, secure largest annual committed capital investment in Indiana’s history — Following back-to-back record-setting years for investment and the largest quarter on record in Q1 2024, Indiana sets yet another record with $38.3 billion in committed CapEx
• J. Brock H. | LinkedIn

The conversation then shifts to strategies for economic developers and communities to prepare for this challenge. Wright emphasizes the importance of skills-based hiring and training, talent attraction and retention, and partnerships between businesses and educational institutions. He advocates for a data-driven approach, urging communities to analyze their local labor markets and adapt their workforce development strategies accordingly. The episode provides valuable insights for economic development professionals, policymakers, and business leaders on how to build a future-ready workforce in the face of these demographic shifts. Wright also highlights the resources available in the report and accompanying materials to help communities navigate this looming crisis.

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Special Guest: Josh Wright.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• The Rising Storm, a Lightcast Demographic Drought | Lightcast
• Lightcast - A Global Leader in Labor Market Analytics
• Joshua Wright | LinkedIn

Marta highlights key topics such as Oregon’s urban growth boundary and its influence on development. She shares the success story of Dutch Bros Coffee—an Oregon startup that scaled into a national brand and went public—as a prime example of the region’s potential. The conversation also explores pressing workforce issues, including childcare shortages, drawing on insights from a recent panel hosted by the Grants Pass and Josephine Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout the episode, Marta’s passion for community engagement is evident as she reflects on her involvement with local organizations. Her journey from Russia to Oregon over two decades ago adds a unique perspective to her approach to economic development. This conversation offers valuable insights into navigating regional growth challenges and strategies for building resilient communities in a competitive national landscape.

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Special Guest: Marta Tarantsey.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!

Links:

• Marta Tarantsey | LinkedIn
• Business Oregon
• Dutch Bros
• Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Alborn — Marta said: "It was one of the first books I was able to read and fully comprehend, internalize, and reflect on once I learned English. Upon reading it I decided to keep in touch with those who've helped me along the way, and I still keep in touch with my college professors and mentors from eras past."

A key focus of the conversation is the Partnership's innovative Business Retention and Expansion program, which has won awards for its collaborative approach involving multiple economic development entities. The guests also touch on how COVID-19 has impacted their work, leading to more efficient virtual meetings and expanded outreach. Throughout the interview, Scott and Archer emphasize their commitment to supporting businesses of all sizes and fostering economic development in the St. Louis area.

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Special Guests: Darrell Scott and Jason Archer.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!
• Launch Your EDO Podcast with the Econ Dev Show: Ready to take your economic development efforts to the next level? The Econ Dev Show has partnered with destination marketing expert Adam Stoker to help you launch a successful podcast for your EDO. Our tailored service provides the expertise, tools, and support you need to create compelling content that attracts businesses and investors to your community. Don't let the challenges of starting a podcast hold you back. Your community has a story to tell – let's amplify it together!

Links:

• STL Partnership Wins Bronze Award for Business Retention and Expansion Excellence | St. Louis Economic Development Partnership — STL Partnership Wins Bronze Award for Business Retention and Expansion Excellence
• St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
• Darrell Scott | LinkedIn
• Business Finance (Lending) | St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
• Jason Van Archer, MBA | LinkedIn
• Business Retention & Expansion | St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
• Jason Archer Discusses BRE on Inside America's Best Cities Podcast | St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
• Jason Archer, new chair of the St. Louis County Workforce Development Board, started his career with the UAW - The Labor Tribune
• Darrell Scott, VP of Business Finance, Named in "Top 100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business" | St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
• Darrell Scott in STL Small Business Monthly April 2023

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.

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Special Guest: Deb Barnett.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: If your property data is scattered or out of date, you're losing projects. Sitehunt gives economic developers an AI-powered property database and instant RFI responses. Schedule a demo today!
• Launch Your EDO Podcast with the Econ Dev Show: Ready to take your economic development efforts to the next level? The Econ Dev Show has partnered with destination marketing expert Adam Stoker to help you launch a successful podcast for your EDO. Our tailored service provides the expertise, tools, and support you need to create compelling content that attracts businesses and investors to your community. Don't let the challenges of starting a podcast hold you back. Your community has a story to tell – let's amplify it together!

Links:

• Official website of SI Now
• SI Now's NOW! magazine
• IEDC Excellence Award for regional partnerships
• IEDC Excellence Award for NOW! magazine
• SI Now's LinkedIn page
• SI Now's Twitter page

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Special Guest: Greg Lowe.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Greg Lowe, TCEcD
• City of Lewisburg, TN
• Make It In Marshall
• Greg Lowe, TCEcD Bio & Resume
• Lewisburg, Tennessee | Facebook
• VR Event with Motlow State 063022 - YouTube — Discussion with Dr. Tony Millican of Motlow State Community College about its VR Lab and the current uses of VR/AR and the future potential in education and training and more from this evolving technology
• VR & ECD Series GSA and PlaceVR 062322 - Youtube — Discussion with Aaron Brossoit and Audrey Anderson of Golden Shovel Agency and PlaceVR on Virtual Reality in Economic Development from Fam Tours and Site Visits to Workforce Development and more.
• VR & ECD Series TransfrVR 062322 - YouTube — Discussion with Arielle Woodmore of TransfrVR on Virtual Reality and Workforce Development, Education & Training opportunities for students, adults, employers and employees.
• 13 Ways to Kill Your Community by Doug Griffiths and Kelly Clemmer

Special Guest: Cody Mosley.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Cody Mosley Receives Designation of Certified Economic Developer from the International Economic Development Council | The Edmond Way
• Prepare for take-off! FT's Cody... - Francis Tuttle Technology Center | Facebook
• Francis Tuttle's workforce, economic development looks to Industry 4.0
• Cody Mosley, CEcD | LinkedIn
• Francis Tuttle Technology Center | We Prepare You for Success