Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development

Dane Carlson
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. How a Town of 30,000 Competes (and Wins) in Economic Development with Tim Hanigan

    9 HR AGO

    How a Town of 30,000 Competes (and Wins) in Economic Development with Tim Hanigan

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Tim Hanigan, CEO of the Aberdeen Development Corporation in Aberdeen, South Dakota, about how a rural community of 30,000 punches above its weight in economic development. 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 Build your own toolbox early - Start small with tools like a revolving loan fund. Even modest contributions compound into real leverage over time. 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. 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. Be honest about fit upfront - Disqualify bad-fit projects early. It saves time, builds credibility, and focuses your effort on winnable deals. Use speed as a competitive advantage - Quick answers, quick coordination, and quick decisions often beat larger incentive packages. Coordinate like one team, not multiple agencies - Eliminate friction between city, county, utilities, and partners so companies feel like there's "no wrong door." Invest in local companies, not just recruitment - Expansions from existing businesses can absorb sites faster and more reliably than outside recruitment. Treat workforce, housing, and childcare as core infrastructure - These are not side issues. They directly determine whether companies can hire and grow. 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. 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. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Tim Hanigan.

    24 min
  2. How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp

    16 MAR

    How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals. Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller. The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Taylor Stepp.

    24 min
  3. How Video is Changing Economic Development Marketing with Lyndsay Wisneski

    9 MAR

    How Video is Changing Economic Development Marketing with Lyndsay Wisneski

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Lyndsay Wisneski, Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, about how storytelling and modern marketing strategies can transform economic development. Lyndsay shares how Yuma built a powerful regional brand through industry-focused mini-documentaries, digital advertising campaigns, and a coordinated content strategy that turns a single video project into years of marketing assets. She explains how even small communities can market themselves effectively by highlighting local companies, repurposing content across platforms, and tracking real marketing ROI. The conversation explores why economic development should focus less on static statistics and more on authentic stories that help companies, site selectors, and residents connect emotionally with a place. Like this show? Please leave us a review here. 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Let companies tell your story. Interviews with CEOs and business leaders are more persuasive than marketing copy. Create industry-focused content that explains why companies in each sector succeed in your region. Turn one project into many assets: long videos, short clips, photos, reports, and social media content. Use short video ads to drive viewers to longer storytelling pieces on your website or YouTube. Track website visitors and identify companies researching your region. Send periodic industry-specific newsletters highlighting local expansions, infrastructure, and investment. Use LinkedIn and targeted digital ads to stay visible to site selectors and executives. Repurpose marketing content across guides, one-pagers, websites, and presentations. Hire local creative talent who can update or expand your content over time. Apply for marketing awards to boost credibility and morale inside your organization and community. Special Guest: Lyndsay Wisneski.

    31 min
  4. Turning a Military Base into a Manufacturing Engine with Eric Voyles

    23 FEB

    Turning a Military Base into a Manufacturing Engine with Eric Voyles

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Eric Voyles, Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Development Officer for TexAmericas Center, about how a former 8,900-acre military installation became one of the most innovative redevelopment authorities in the country. Eric explains how eliminating public review delays, investing millions in environmental cleanup, controlling rail and logistics assets, and focusing relentlessly on speed to occupancy have allowed TexAmericas Center to compete for heavy and light manufacturing projects. From creative risk-taking with early-stage companies to clearing 250-acre rail-served sites after losing a deal, this conversation is a masterclass in how data, preparation, and governance alignment drive real economic development results. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Make time your primary incentive. If possible, remove unnecessary entitlement layers and compress approval timelines. Speed reduces perceived risk. Self-certify before paying for certification. Develop internal "qualified site" standards so prospects can complete due diligence faster. Track inventory in categories. Move-in ready, construction ready, shovel ready, rail served, etc. Clarity accelerates decisions. Invest after losing. If you lose a project for a specific reason, eliminate that weakness permanently, even if it costs real money. Treat small buildings as assets. Flexible, modular inventory can win projects creatively, even when you lack a single large structure. Control key assets when possible. Owning rail, logistics, or utilities strengthens your value proposition and revenue model. Be willing to take calculated risk on local companies. Early bets on scalable firms can create long-term anchor employers. Align your board around business realities. Populate governance with people who understand customers, not just politics. Operate like a private developer. Use CRM systems, outsourcing where efficient, and disciplined deal flow management. Let data guide strategy. Understand supply and demand curves in your region before pushing incentives or marketing narratives. Special Guest: Eric Voyles.

    34 min
  5. Building a Cross-Border Economic Engine with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi

    16 FEB

    Building a Cross-Border Economic Engine with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Director of Economic Development for Pima County, Arizona, to explore how one of the largest counties in the country balances rural biodiversity, cross-border trade with Mexico, aerospace and optics clusters, semiconductor workforce development, and even controversial data center projects. Heath shares how a four-and-a-half-person team coordinates across municipalities, tribal nations, academia, and public health to execute a regional strategy that blends quantitative results with qualitative community engagement. From a $1.2 billion battery manufacturing project to evolving policies on nondisclosure agreements and enhanced due diligence, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at modern county-level economic development in action Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Heath Vescovi-Chiordi.

    24 min
  6. What Rural Economic Development in Nebraska Really Looks Like in 2026 with Lisa Hurley

    9 FEB

    What Rural Economic Development in Nebraska Really Looks Like in 2026 with Lisa Hurley

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Lisa Hurley, Executive Director of the York County Development Corporation in Nebraska, to talk about what modern rural economic development actually looks like on the ground. Lisa shares how York County leverages its logistics position, diversified employers, and growing civic pride while navigating workforce shortages, childcare capacity, housing pressure, and community resistance to change. They discuss talent attraction campaigns, podcasting as an economic development tool, and why rural EDOs must now think far beyond traditional business recruitment. The conversation also explores leadership, burnout, mentoring the next generation of economic developers, and how Lisa is using AI to save time while staying human where it matters most. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Treat childcare capacity as core economic infrastructure, not a side issue Invest in talent marketing even when results are hard to attribute directly Use layered messaging across state, local, and employer campaigns Build trust by proactively sharing progress and visuals with the community Accept that some resistance to change cannot be resolved, only managed Partner aggressively to avoid owning every initiative yourself Use podcasts and storytelling to humanize your community and organization Leverage AI for HR, editing, and admin work to protect business-facing time Mentor younger economic developers to reduce burnout and build continuity Remember that stopping a bad project can be a win, not a failure Special Guest: Lisa Hurley.

    32 min
  7. Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds

    1 FEB

    Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market. Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way. The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds.

    28 min
  8. The Fifth Season of Economic Development with Juliet Abdel

    26 JAN

    The Fifth Season of Economic Development with Juliet Abdel

    In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Juliet Abdel, President and CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, to talk about building a regionally focused, globally minded economic development organization. Drawing on Cedar Rapids' "fifth season" advantage (time, accessibility, and quality of life) Juliet shares how the region leverages industry clusters, international relationships, and leadership discipline to compete. The conversation blends practical economic development strategy with candid insights on burnout, boundaries, and leading people well in a demanding field. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Treat quality of life as a competitive asset, not a marketing afterthought. Focus attraction efforts on industry clusters that naturally complement what already exists locally. International business development does not require a global city, only consistent relationship-building. Cast a clear vision so teams understand the "why," not just the tasks. Protect staff health by modeling boundaries, especially around after-hours communication. Build attraction strategies around regional strengths, not generic wish lists. Encourage team members to say no when capacity or clarity is missing. Leverage peer networks aggressively. Most good ideas already exist somewhere else. Recognize burnout as an organizational risk, not a personal weakness. Remember that economic development works best when personal well-being and professional performance reinforce each other. Special Guest: Juliet Abdel.

    33 min
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About

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.

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