Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development

236: Stop Treating Entrepreneurship Like a Side Project with Peter McGee

Peter McGee joins Dane Carlson to explain why entrepreneurship belongs at the center of economic development strategy and how communities can build programs that give aspiring business owners real support while producing measurable results.

235: Site Selection Doesn't Start With the Site with Thane Hutcheson

Thane Hutcheson explains how companies actually choose locations, what economic developers often misunderstand about site selection, and why better data and AI should create more time for the human work that wins projects.

234: Why Rural Communities Need More Than Grant Money with Amy Renner

Amy Renner of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership explains why rural economic development often depends less on finding more money and more on building capacity, relationships, technical expertise, and community-led strategies that turn ambitious ideas into fundable projects.

233: Infrastructure, Trust, and the Future of Economic Development with Will Williams

Will Williams joins Dane Carlson to discuss the changing economics of industrial development, the controversy surrounding data centers, the importance of public trust, and why economic developers increasingly have to do their work “on the front porch.”

232: Stop Marketing Your Community Like Everywhere Else with Bethany Quinn

Bethany Quinn explains how economic developers can replace generic marketing with specific stories, focused strategies, stronger stakeholder communication, and content designed for both people and AI.

231: Speed Wins in Economic Development with Mike Swesey

Mike Swesey, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, explains how speed, responsiveness, workforce alignment, authentic relationships, and disciplined targeting are helping St. Pete compete for business investment.

230: No Is Never the Final Answer: Creative Retention Strategies with Andrew Sloss

Andrew Sloss explains why “no” is often the beginning of a conversation, how communities can support struggling businesses creatively, and why transparency, relationships, and incentive compliance matter.

229: How Monterey Bay Became an Advanced Air Mobility Hub with Lavera Alexander

Lavera Alexander explains how Monterey Bay is building an inclusive advanced air mobility ecosystem by coordinating airports, infrastructure, workforce pathways, community engagement, and regional partners.

228: Capital Is Not the Bottleneck with Liz Maxwell

Liz Maxwell explains how startup accelerators, homegrown entrepreneurship, and strong regional ecosystems can turn local problems into scalable companies, investment, and jobs.

227: Never Underestimate the Power of Ceremony with Melissa James

Melissa James explains how California’s Central Coast turned economic uncertainty into a regional strategy built around collaboration, durable partnerships, workforce development, housing, and the region’s strengths in energy, aerospace, and technology.

226: Economic Development Is a Relationship Game with Damian Denmark

Damian Denmark joins the Econ Dev Show to talk about building Yukon’s economic development function from scratch, why relationships are the real infrastructure of local growth, and how communities should think more strategically about projects, incentives, data centers, and trust.

225: Detroit Beyond the Comeback with Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson explains how Detroit is moving beyond its “comeback” story by combining major investment, neighborhood commercial corridor development, inclusive entrepreneurship, and a sharper case for why companies should choose the city.

224: Building Trust Before Building Buildings with Janae Stark

Janae Stark explains how Washington’s Community Economic Revitalization Board helps rural communities and tribes build the public infrastructure, relationships, and project readiness needed to support jobs, private investment, and long-term local growth.

223: The Power of Powerlessness with Michael Hecht

Michael Hecht joins Dane Carlson to talk about New Orleans’ industrial backbone, long-term recovery, coalition-building, and why economic development is really about creating the conditions where people and businesses choose to stay, invest, and grow.

222: How Energy Is Changing Site Selection with Anna Cardona

Anna Cardona joins Dane to talk about energy infrastructure, data centers, private-sector economic development, and why economic developers need to think more creatively about capital, community impact, and where deals really begin.

• Chapters

221: Music as Economic Development with Matt Mandrella

Matt Mandrella, Huntsville’s Music Officer, explains how the city treats music as economic development infrastructure, using venues, programming, artist support, tourism, and quality of life to grow both its music ecosystem and broader economy.

220: The Hidden Cost of Becoming Cool with Jon Roberts

John Roberts joins Dane to talk about Austin’s tech growth, the hidden costs of becoming “cool,” and what economic developers should learn before the next wave of tech-driven growth hits their communities.

219: The Economic Development Handbook We All Needed with Glenn Athey

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.

218: What Site Selectors Wish Economic Developers Understood with Mark Williams

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.

Why Economic Development Fundraising Matters More Than Ever with Brian Abernathy and Clint Nessmith

Brian Abernathy and Clint Nessmith explain how the merger of Convergent and Resource Development Group strengthens economic development fundraising, expands RDG’s national reach, and helps chambers and EDOs build stronger cases for investor support.