Develop This: Economic and Community Development

Although good committees do exist, there are plenty of bad ones littering our communities.  What separates the two?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason differentiate between policy committees and those that rely on volunteers to complete tasks between meetings.  Assuming these committees have an acute mission, are staffed appropriately, and also have the right people on the bus, there is still a key ingredient needed to ensure success: follow-up.

Tune in for some best practices on encouraging and motivating volunteers between committee meetings.

How can your community turn distressed properties into affordable housing?  Eddie Lorin, a multifamily investor and managing director of Strategic Realty Holdings, has done it over and over to the tune of $3 billion worth of deals.

In this episode, Jason interviews Eddie to discover unique and creative incentives to spur multifamily redevelopment.  In addition, Eddie shares his thoughts on impact investing, Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH), and caution over the term 'gentrification'.

Strategic Realty Holdings

Social Impact Real Estate Investing

When it comes to the economic development profession, few have the energy and vision of Ron Kitchens with Southwest Michigan First.  As senior partner, Ron has built an incredibly strong team that operates more like a consulting firm than a traditional economic development group.  Southwest Michigan First has also been consistently ranked as one of the best places to work in the nation.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Ron to learn more about the rigorous 3-4 month hiring process for a member of the Southwest Michigan First team and why culture is so critical to the workplace.

Great quotes from the podcast:

"Everyone needs a mentor at least 10 years older than you and 10 years younger than you."

"Everyone is the CEO of their own responsibilities."

Southwest Michigan First

Always Forward Podcast

More About Ron

Before you finalize your goals and strategies for 2019, take some time to appreciate your 2018 accomplishments.  Odds are that you have already forgotten about significant victories in both your personal and professional life.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason get personal and share achievements from both career and life at home.

Good work deserves to be recognized.  One way to get your organization, program, or staff a little recognition is to apply for an IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Award.  Although the application window is several months away, now is the perfect time to decide which award categories best align with your 2018 successes.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share their experience in applying for and receiving awards in recent years.

2018 IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards

Odds are you have heard of a micropolitan as there are 550 or so across the country.  But what is a Micgrowpolitan?  In short, they are communities between 10,000 - 50,000 in population that are ready to grow, are willing to try a new approach, and are ready to make a commitment to action.

In this episode, Jason interviews David Toyer, head of Toyer Strategic Consulting, on this new and innovative way of thinking about community growth.

https://toyerstrategic.com/micgrowpolitan/

The attractiveness of your community matters.

Improving the appearance of neighborhoods is a never-ending job and can take unlimited resources.  However, one way to inspire the citizenry is to train people to notice.  Put the lens of a newcomer or an investor on.  What would you see?

In this episode, Dennis and Jason explain why appearances matter and offer some encouragement to train the eyes of your community.

Non-profit organizations need to have enough cash in the bank to weather rough patches, make payroll, and support capital projects.  However, too much cash in the bank could make investors leery of writing additional checks.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason discuss cash management strategies for non-profit organizations and provide some food for thought on balancing reserves.

Like it or not, difficult people will cross your path in the economic development business.  How do you deal with them?  One hint- avoidance typically doesn't work.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason share tips and anecdotal examples for dealing with difficult people and challenging situations.

How often should your board of directors or advisory committee hold a meeting?  In a world with increasing personal demands, the era of the monthly board meeting may be over.  At a minimum, the topic should be reviewed every couple of years.

In this episode, Jason outlines some of the things to consider when adjusting board meeting frequency.