The Ribbon Cut

Strata Platforms, Charles Houser, Susan Donkers Franklin
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Welcome to The Ribbon Cut, the podcast pulling back the curtain on the complex, competitive, and often misunderstood world of site selection and economic development. Whether you're an economic developer, a corporate self-performer, or a seasoned site selector, this show is your insider pass to the decisions shaping the future of business growth and community development. Each episode features candid conversations with the people who actually make it happen—from groundbreakers to data geeks, deal-makers to ribbon cutters. We talk wins and failures, trends and tech, and the unexpected human stories behind site decisions that move millions. Think of us as your field guide to navigating RFPs, RFIs, incentives, timelines, and the real-world trade-offs that turn potential into projects. Whether you're building a new facility, managing the search process in-house, or just curious about how the deals get done, The Ribbon Cut delivers insights with soul and strategies that scale.

  1. Why LocationOne.com Uses Zillow-Style Aggregation for Site Selection Search Before the RFI

    FEB 23

    Why LocationOne.com Uses Zillow-Style Aggregation for Site Selection Search Before the RFI

    The way site selectors search has evolved, and communities have more opportunity than ever to participate early in the process. In this episode, Susan and Charles examine how discovery in corporate location strategy is increasingly shaped by structured visibility. Drawing on lessons from Rich Barton's experiences building Expedia and Zillow, they explore how aggregation reorganizes search by giving buyers the ability to filter, narrow, and save options before formal RFIs, calls, or site visits occur. Today’s projects often begin with digital screening. Site selectors filter by workforce, transportation access, acreage, and utility providers. Structured data supports early confidence, and aggregated platforms ensure properties can be searched and saved as favorites before direct engagement begins. This episode explores: • How buyer behavior in site selection mirrors the evolution of Expedia for travel and Zillow for residential real estate • Why digital screening happens before formal outreach • What site selectors look for when early-stage searching • How LocationOne.com supports searching, filtering, and favorites • What property analytics and activity trends reveal about engagement • How aggregation strengthens local storytelling rather than replacing it As aggregation continues to shape early discovery, communities that align with how buyers search today are expanding their reach, increasing meaningful consideration, and positioning themselves for stronger opportunities in the years ahead. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    30 min
  2. Benchmarking the World: Why U.S. Data Sets the Global Standard

    FEB 9

    Benchmarking the World: Why U.S. Data Sets the Global Standard

    When markets feel uncertain, site selection doesn’t stop. It becomes more selective, more compressed, and more dependent on clear, reliable site information. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles sit down with Lindsey Cannon of Quest Site Solutions to talk about what actually happens when projects move from early interest to real evaluation, and why many sites fall out once timelines, utilities, permitting, and data quality come into focus. Lindsey shares what her team sees across active projects nationwide, including how quickly poor information presentation can eliminate an otherwise viable site and why readiness shows up long before a site visit is scheduled. In this episode: • How uncertainty reshapes—not pauses—site selection activity. • Why “urgent” projects often collapse when constraints surface. • What site selectors notice first when reviewing site information. • How data quality and clarity influence early elimination. • What consistently helps prepared sites rise to the top. For economic developers and property owners focused on site readiness, this conversation offers a grounded look at what truly differentiates competitive sites when decisions start getting real. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    35 min
  3. Data Under Pressure: What’s Breaking (and What Still Works) in Economic Intelligence

    JAN 26

    Data Under Pressure: What’s Breaking (and What Still Works) in Economic Intelligence

    Public economic data systems are being stretched thinner at the same time local decision-making depends on them more than ever. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles are joined by Ken Poole to explain what’s happening behind the scenes at federal data agencies, and why staffing cuts, privacy constraints, and rising demand for localized detail are changing how workforce and economic data should be interpreted. In this episode: • Why public data systems are struggling to keep up with local demand. • How staffing losses at agencies like BLS impact continuity and reliability. • Where privacy constraints limit the granularity communities need. • Why private data sources are filling gaps—and where caution is required. • What this shift means for defensible, data-backed decision-making. For economic developers, analysts, and consultants who rely on workforce and employment data, this episode provides essential context for navigating today’s increasingly fragile data environment. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    35 min
  4. Data, Rural America & the Long Game: A Conversation with Carolyn Chrisman

    JAN 12

    Data, Rural America & the Long Game: A Conversation with Carolyn Chrisman

    Rural economic development is less about landing one big win and more about making disciplined, data-backed decisions over time. Carolyn Chrisman of Chrisman Consulting joins Susan and Charles to discuss how data-driven strategy helps rural communities move past assumptions and build realistic paths forward. Drawing from decades of methodology rooted in the Ady Advantage legacy, Carolyn explains how communities identify what they’re actually competitive in and what to stop chasing. In this episode: Why assumptions hold rural regions back more than lack of resources.How target industry analysis separates opportunity from wishful thinking.What location quotients, growth projections, and industry clusters really reveal.The biggest workforce and housing constraints rural communities face today.How education and expectation-setting shape successful strategies.Why long-term planning beats chasing short-term deals.For economic developers, utilities, and consultants working in rural markets, this episode offers a grounded framework for building strategies that are honest, defensible, and sustainable. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    33 min
  5. Inside the Site Selector’s Mind: Lessons from 25 Years with Larry Gigerich

    12/29/2025

    Inside the Site Selector’s Mind: Lessons from 25 Years with Larry Gigerich

    Site selection has changed dramatically over the last two decades, but many communities are still operating as if it hasn’t. In this episode, Larry Gigerich of Ginovus joins Susan and Charles to share what he’s learned from more than 25 years advising companies across North America. From manufacturing and life sciences to logistics and data centers, Larry breaks down how decisions really get made, and where communities most often fall behind. In this episode: How site selection timelines have compressed, and why speed now outweighs polish.What “readiness” actually means from the consultant’s side of the table.Why transparent, complete data matters more than aggressive marketing.How desktop diligence has replaced early site visits, and what that means for communities.Common mistakes regions make before an RFP ever goes out.Advice for young professionals entering site selection and economic development today.Whether you’re responding to RFIs, preparing sites, or trying to stay relevant in a faster-moving market, this conversation offers a clear look at how site selectors think and what earns their trust. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    25 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    The LOIS Advantage: How Communities Tell Their Story With Data

    LOIS has been around for more than two decades, but many teams still ask what makes it different from other property marketing tools. In this FAQ edition, Susan and Charles take you inside the origins of LOIS, why a utility originally built it, and how it grew into one of the most widely adopted mapping platforms in economic development. In this episode: How LOIS helps communities create a clear, data-backed digital presence.Why “if you can map it, you can show it” matters for industrial recruitment.How statewide maps scale down to regions and local identities without losing nuance.Why unlimited photos, videos, and due diligence documents change the game.How every LOIS listing extends reach through LocationOne.com — viewed from people from 57 countries each month.If you’re responsible for marketing sites, shaping your digital strategy, or helping communities get discovered, this episode offers a straightforward, practical guide to what LOIS does and why it works. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    43 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    Inside Lasso: What Teams Really Want to Know

    Everyone has questions about how to manage RFIs better, and Lasso sits at the center of that conversation. In this episode, Susan and Charles walk through the most common questions they hear from both site selectors and economic development teams about how the platform actually works in practice. The result is a clear, grounded look at what makes collaboration faster, cleaner, and more secure when projects get complicated. In this episode: --> Why Lasso was built as a private, cloud-based workspace for project collaboration. --> How more than 6,000 economic developers have already replied inside the system. --> What “clean data” really means when timelines are tight. --> Why Lasso doesn’t replace your CRM — and what it does better. --> How templates and recallable answers save hours across state, regional, and local teams. Whether you're responding to RFIs, managing multi-partner coordination, or trying to create more consistency in your process, this episode brings the essentials into focus. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    41 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    Beyond the Walls: How Clayco Builds More Than Buildings

    Design-build is just the beginning. In this episode, we talk with Oliver Muenz-Winkler of Clayco, one of the nation’s largest integrated construction firms, to learn how they embed themselves in the full lifecycle of economic development. And, why that model is reshaping how big projects get built.   We cover how Clayco’s approach goes far beyond concrete: --> Why they invest heavily in cultivating local subcontractor networks. --> How they partner with utilities, railroads, and state agencies from day one. --> What makes a community “data center ready,” and why some should say no.   Clayco isn’t just building facilities. They’re building ecosystems around their projects that drive workforce development, infrastructure investment, and long-term business retention.   If you want to attract complex projects (and keep them healthy) this episode is essential listening. Learn more about Strata Platforms.

    37 min
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About

Welcome to The Ribbon Cut, the podcast pulling back the curtain on the complex, competitive, and often misunderstood world of site selection and economic development. Whether you're an economic developer, a corporate self-performer, or a seasoned site selector, this show is your insider pass to the decisions shaping the future of business growth and community development. Each episode features candid conversations with the people who actually make it happen—from groundbreakers to data geeks, deal-makers to ribbon cutters. We talk wins and failures, trends and tech, and the unexpected human stories behind site decisions that move millions. Think of us as your field guide to navigating RFPs, RFIs, incentives, timelines, and the real-world trade-offs that turn potential into projects. Whether you're building a new facility, managing the search process in-house, or just curious about how the deals get done, The Ribbon Cut delivers insights with soul and strategies that scale.

Information

  • Creator
    Strata Platforms, Charles Houser, Susan Donkers Franklin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Ribbon Cut and 9/8 Central
  • Show Website
    The Ribbon Cut