Develop This: Economic and Community Development

In this episode, Dennis welcomes co-host candidate #2 Broderick Green Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Arlington, TX. Dennis and Broderick discuss placemaking as an economic development strategy.

• Economic development is no longer "chasing smokestacks"
• Placemaking is a strategy that utilizes a local community's assets 
• Sustainability has become an important topic for communities

In this episode, Dennis is joined by co-host candidate #1 Lindsay Miller from Colorado. Lindsay and Dennis discuss naturally occurring affordable housing.

• What is naturally occurring affordable housing? 
• typical characteristics of NOAH
• Preserving NOAH 

About Lindsay: Lindsay Miller is an economic and community development professional and interdisciplinary researcher, writer, and teacher. She works as a consultant in urban and rural Colorado, helping local leaders create community-based economic development strategies to foster widespread and equitable prosperity while mitigating the negative consequences of unfettered growth.

Lindsay is a Senior Fellow at the National Civic League, an organization whose mission is to advance civic engagement to create equitable, thriving communities. She has also worked in real estate development for Urban Ventures LLC, a private real estate development company that focuses on affordable housing, adaptive reuse, and health-informed design. Before Urban Ventures, Lindsay taught writing courses and served as a research assistant at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Lindsay holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Sciences from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  

In this episode, Dennis discusses change both good and bad along with some of the reasons most of us fear change. In a time of great change, you can find clarity as long as you keep an open mind.

• Change is both electrifying and terrifying
• Resistance to change is a normal human reaction
• Don't be afraid to change legacy programs
• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Change must be a team sport

In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on soliciting companies for significant donations for a specific project. What are the steps involved in securing a lead donation and working with a company to plant a flag in the ground for others to follow?

•  Be patient
• The project must align with the goals and mission of the company 
• Professional materials
• Communicate clearly and succinctly 
• You must have an existing relationship
• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Give credit where credit is due
• Be humble and appreciative 

In this episode, Dennis is joined by a friend of the show Mark Perna and a special guest Dr. Erin Slater superintendent of the Fort Madison school district. Erin and Dennis have worked together extensively to launch the Lee County Career Advantage Center. 

Mark, Erin, and Dennis discuss the trials and tribulations of working with partners in education, business, and industry. They explore the reasons for silos and how to break down barriers and explore ways to see a project from multiple perspectives. 

In this episode, Dennis shares his thoughts on the 2022 IEDC National Conference in Oklahoma City. He talks about the sights and sounds of Oklahoma City and the conference programming.

In this episode, Dennis shares his struggles to unplug during a week-long vacation. During his vacation, one of the towns in his county was rocked by not one but two major facility closure announcements. How do you react when you are trying to unplug but the wheels are coming off the bus at home? Listen to how Dennis' team rose to the challenge and how a good book saved his vacation. 

In this episode, Dennis discusses remote workers and their impact. There are different opinions around the country and among companies as to what the right approach is for each organization. Dennis also admits his assumptions about which generations liked or disliked remote working was off base. (Hint, Boomers like remote working, who knew?)

Today may be the perfect time for your organization to take a critical look at your office space to see if it reflects who you are today as an organization. Dennis also offers practical tips on how to take a critical look at your current office space. 

Remote working and hybrid working are here to stay. Now is the time to make sure your organization has a remote working policy and that you are ready to take advantage of new opportunities. 

Do you have what it takes to be the next co-host of America's #1 economic development podcast Develop This!? Dennis is searching for someone that wants to be almost famous. 

Here's what it takes to be the next Develop This! co-host

• Passionate about community and economic development 
• A sense of humor
• Intellectual curiosity
• Commitment - A new show every week!
• Fearless
• Creative
• Social media savvy
• No previous experience - just enthusiasm!

There are a limited number of co-host tryout slots available. Claim yours today by reaching out to Dennis at [email protected] or 319-753-0690

Don't miss your opportunity!

Develop This! will start 2023 with a new co-host.

70% of all working-age people are either thinking about or actively looking for a new position. Only 14% of Americans believe they have a great job and would not change it. There has never been a more turbulent time for workers. Should you hop on the bandwagon and consider a job or career change?

In this episode, Dennis takes a look at the pros and cons of switching jobs and the primary reason people switch to a new opportunity. Don't sell your current employer short. Initiating a conversation could put you on the path you are seeking.