Develop This: Economic and Community Development

In this episode of Develop This!, Joi Cuartero Austin sits down with Eric Reader to explore one of the most overlooked—but most impactful—strategies in economic development: business retention.

While recruitment often grabs headlines, Eric makes the case that real, sustainable community growth happens by supporting the businesses you already have. Through proactive relationship-building, early intervention, and consistent communication, local leaders can help small businesses not just survive—but thrive.

This episode dives into practical, easy-to-implement strategies, from using simple tracking tools and AI to identifying early warning signs of distress. Eric also emphasizes the importance of celebrating small wins to build momentum and strengthen trust within the local business community.

If you're looking to maximize your impact with limited time and resources, this conversation provides a clear roadmap for building a stronger, more resilient local economy—one relationship at a time.

Key Takeaways

• Retention drives long-term growth more effectively than constant recruitment
• Proactive relationship-building is essential to understanding business needs
• Early intervention prevents closures and strengthens local economies
• Simple tools (like spreadsheets and AI) can dramatically improve tracking and insights
• Celebrating small wins builds trust and momentum within the business community

Episode Highlights

• Why retention should be the foundation of any economic development strategy
• How to structure meaningful, ongoing conversations with business owners
• Recognizing early warning signs before businesses reach crisis point
• Practical ways to track business engagement and identify trends
• Leveraging technology to streamline retention efforts
• Busting common myths about business retention
• Strategies for maximizing impact with limited staff and time

Memorable Sound Bites

• "Retention is where the real work is."
• "Ask about what's getting in the way."
• "Track your conversations and trends."

Episode Summary

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise is joined by Katie Davenport and Rick Kiernan from Convergent Nonprofit Solutions to explore how Promise programs are reshaping workforce development and community growth.

From nationally recognized models like the Kalamazoo Promise to emerging initiatives like the Greenwood Promise, these programs are creating long-term talent pipelines, expanding access to education, and driving economic competitiveness.

If your community is looking for a proven strategy to attract talent, support students, and grow your economy, this episode delivers both inspiration and a roadmap.

What You'll Learn

Promise Programs as an Economic Development Strategy

• Why investing in students is investing in your workforce
• How Promise programs help attract and retain talent
• The connection between education access and economic growth

Real-World Impact

• How the Kalamazoo Promise transformed a community
• The emotional and economic impact of the Greenwood Promise
• Why do these programs create multi-generational change

How Promise Programs Work

• Scholarship structures and eligibility models
• Public-private funding strategies
• The role of philanthropy and community leadership

Key insight: "Impact is proven and benefits are clear."

The Role of Economic Development Organizations

• Convening partners across sectors
• Aligning education with workforce needs
• Leading long-term, sustainable initiatives

Building a Successful Program

Key ingredients:

• Strong community buy-in
• Clear, simple messaging
• Cross-sector partnerships
• Long-term funding strategy

"There's no sense in recreating the wheel."

Beyond Tuition: What Students Really Need

Promise programs succeed when they go beyond funding:

• Transportation
• Social skills
• Mentorship and support systems

"Transportation and social skills are critical."

Getting Started in Your Community

• Learn from existing models like Kalamazoo Promise
• Engage key stakeholders early
• Build a coalition of funders and champions
• Focus on sustainability from day one

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark Perna to explore "Rally Your Region," a powerful new initiative developed in partnership with the International Economic Development Council.

Designed to help communities break through silos, build consensus, and take real action, Rally Your Region provides a structured, customizable framework to align stakeholders around a shared vision for economic and workforce success.

If your region struggles to align education, employers, and community leaders, this episode offers a clear path forward.

What You'll Learn

The Concept Behind Rally Your Region

• Why regions need a central rally point to move forward
• How alignment drives measurable economic outcomes
• What makes this initiative different from traditional planning efforts

Why Regional Collaboration Is So Hard

• Competing priorities across organizations
• Lack of shared goals and accountability
• The challenge of moving from discussion to action

Building True Consensus

• How to create buy-in across sectors
• The importance of a shared "why"
• Turning agreement into execution

Connecting Education and Workforce

• Why the education-to-employment pipeline is often broken
• How to better align:
• K-12 systems
• Higher education
• Employers
• Why mindset matters:

"Young people are not a problem to be solved."

The Power of a Rally Point

At the core of the initiative is a simple but powerful idea:

Create a rally point where everyone buys in

• A shared vision
• A common language
• A coordinated strategy

Without it, regions remain fragmented. With it, they can move forward together.

Actionable Steps for Your Community

• Identify key regional stakeholders
• Establish a neutral, trusted convening space
• Define shared priorities and goals
• Customize the Rally Your Region framework to fit your community
• Focus on implementation—not just planning

Key Insights

✔ The world of work has fundamentally changed✔ Alignment is now more important than ever✔ Collaboration must lead to clear action steps✔ Workforce development is a regional challenge✔ Flexibility and customization are critical for success

Memorable Sound Bites

• "Creating a rally point where everyone buys in."
• "The world has completely changed."
• "Young people are not a problem to be solved."

People First: Rethinking Economic Development with Maggie Strong

Economic development has long focused on transactions—deals, incentives, and projects. But the communities thriving today are doing something different: they're putting people at the center of the strategy.

In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Maggie Strong, founder of Strong Consulting, to explore how authentic community engagement can unlock stronger, more sustainable economic growth.

With nearly two decades of experience in economic development strategy, marketing, and community visioning, Maggie shares practical insights from her work helping rural and small-town communities build momentum through relationships, trust, and shared ownership of local initiatives.

The conversation dives into the shift from traditional top-down planning to people-centered development, why many engagement efforts fail, and how leaders can build genuine community buy-in that turns plans into movements.

You'll also hear lessons from a revitalization effort in Quincy, Illinois, where authentic engagement helped transform a corridor revitalization effort into a community-driven success story.

If you're an economic developer looking to move beyond check-the-box engagement and create lasting impact, this episode offers practical ideas you can put to work right away.

Key Topics Covered

• The shift from transactional to people-centered economic development
• Why trust and relationships are critical infrastructure for community growth
• The difference between authentic engagement and transactional engagement
• Practical ways to overcome public meeting fatigue
• How community buy-in turns plans into real momentum
• Lessons from downtown corridor revitalization in Quincy, Illinois

Key Frameworks Discussed

People-Centered Development A strategy that prioritizes relationships, shared ownership, and inclusive participation to create sustainable growth.

Trust-Based Community Engagement Building authentic relationships that allow communities to move from planning to action.

Practical Takeaways for Economic Developers

✔ Have three genuine conversations with community members in the next 30 days.✔ Share back what you heard using visual summaries or simple storytelling.✔ Identify community champions who can sustain momentum beyond the planning process.✔ Focus less on meetings and more on meaningful interactions.

Memorable Sound Bites

• "Trust is the foundation of community growth."

Across America, thousands of business owners are quietly approaching retirement — and many have no succession plan in place. For communities, that represents a major economic risk: lost jobs, closed storefronts, and the potential loss of locally rooted businesses.

In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark Piekos, Executive Director of the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, to explore how communities can turn the coming wave of business transitions into an economic development opportunity.

Mark shares insights from Strong Transitions, an innovative program helping business owners prepare for exit while connecting them with the next generation of entrepreneurs. The initiative provides advisory support, builds a network of professional experts, and helps communities retain businesses through local ownership and thoughtful succession planning.

Mark brings a unique perspective to the role. A lifelong resident of McHenry County and former small business owner, he also previously led the Illinois Small Business Development Center at McHenry County College, giving him firsthand experience helping entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses.

Together, Dennis and Mark discuss why succession planning is often overlooked, the risks communities face if they ignore it, and how economic developers can build programs that protect local businesses, preserve jobs, and strengthen their economic base.

If your community wants to retain businesses, build entrepreneurship pipelines, and prepare for the coming transition wave, this conversation is a must-listen.

Key Topics Covered

• Why 73% of privately held businesses are expected to transition in the next decade
• The economic development risks of unplanned business exits
• How the Strong Transitions program connects business owners and successors
• The role of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)
• Why succession planning should be a core business retention strategy
• Building an advisor bench to support business transitions
• Marketing strategies to reach business owners who rarely talk about exit plans
• How communities can start their own succession planning initiatives

Memorable Quotes

• "Succession planning is one of the biggest economic development issues that no one is talking about."

Ethics is the invisible foundation of successful economic development. In this episode of Develop This!, we explore why professional integrity is essential to building trust, guiding difficult decisions, and sustaining long-term community growth.

Dennis Fraise interviews Jim Fram, a longtime educator and leader in economic development ethics, about how ethical standards have evolved in the profession—and why they matter more than ever in today's complex environment.

From navigating gray areas in deal-making to understanding the role of formal codes of ethics and professional accountability, Jim shares insights from decades of experience teaching and mentoring economic development professionals.

The conversation also looks forward, examining how emerging challenges—including AI, increasing deal complexity, and growing public scrutiny—are shaping the future of ethical leadership in the field.

Whether you're new to economic development or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers practical guidance on maintaining integrity while advancing your community's goals.

In This Episode

• Why ethics serves as the backbone of economic development
• The evolution of ethical standards in the profession
• Why a formal code of ethics and ongoing training are critical
• Common ethical gray areas practitioners encounter
• The impact of new technologies like AI on ethical decision-making
• Real-world consequences when ethical standards are violated
• How professionals and organizations can rebuild trust after mistakes

Memorable Sound Bites

• "Do what's right, even when it's hard."
• "Violations can destroy community trust."
• "Case studies reveal the gray areas where ethics really matter."

The grant landscape is shifting quickly — and economic developers need to be ready.

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Adrian Spencer, founder of Grant Guru, to explore what's ahead for grants, funding, and economic development in 2026.

Federal policy changes are reshaping funding opportunities, including a shift away from centralized systems like Grants.gov toward department-specific platforms. At the same time, economic developers are facing increased pressure to secure funding with fewer resources.

Adrian shares how communities can adapt by diversifying funding sources, strengthening partnerships, and embracing new tools like AI while maintaining strong oversight and strategy.

The conversation also explores emerging trends, including state-level grant initiatives, community collaboration, and the growing role of faith-based organizations in addressing economic and social challenges.

Finally, Dennis and Adrian discuss why impact assessment is becoming essential for winning grants and how economic developers can better demonstrate the value of their projects to funders.

If your community relies on grants to fund growth, infrastructure, or workforce initiatives, this episode offers practical insight into how to stay competitive in the evolving funding landscape.

Download our free White Paper here (by providing a name/email): https://pages.grantguru.com/state-of-play-us-2025

Mention that you heard about GrantGuru on Develop This! and receive a 20% discount

Key Topics Covered

• How federal policy changes are reshaping the grant landscape
• The shift from Grants.gov to department-specific funding platforms
• Why state governments may expand funding programs
• Strategies for diversifying funding sources
• The growing importance of community collaboration in grant applications
• How faith-based organizations are becoming key partners in community development
• The opportunities created by former federal employees re-entering the workforce
• How AI is changing grant research and development
• Why impact measurement is critical for securing future funding

Sound Bites

• "Grants.gov is becoming less reliable."
• "States are going to step up their grant game."
• "AI is already transforming grant development."
• "Grant seeking should be a community effort."
• "Funders want proof of impact, not just good ideas."

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with "America's factory whisperer," Didi Caldwell, President & CEO of Global Location Strategies, for a candid and strategic conversation about the realities of site selection in today's turbulent environment. Site Selectors Guild

With more than two decades guiding large manufacturing and heavy industrial projects, Didi shares insider insight into how companies actually make location decisions — and where communities often fall short.

From compressed project timelines to the reshoring debate, from data centers reshaping energy markets to the growing importance of investment-ready sites, this episode is a masterclass in modern economic development strategy.

If your community wants to compete — and win — this conversation is essential listening.

What You'll Learn

The New Reality of Site Selection

• The world of site selection is more volatile than ever.
• "Slow is fast — and fast is fraught with mistakes."
• Companies often fail by not aligning internal stakeholders before launching a search.
• Falling in love with a location before the data supports it can derail projects.

Didi emphasizes a critical principle:

"We evaluate proof, not potential."

Incentives: Myths vs. Reality

• Incentives can enhance a strong location — but they cannot fix fatal flaws.
• Communities have a responsibility to evaluate ROI.
• The best incentive? A truly investment-ready site.
• Discipline in underwriting incentives protects long-term community prosperity.

"Communities have a responsibility too."

Data Centers & the Energy Disruption

Data centers are fundamentally reshaping:

• Energy markets
• Power pricing
• Infrastructure planning
• Community land use

As Didi notes:

"The power price just went up too high."

Communities must proactively manage land planning and infrastructure capacity to avoid crowding out other investment opportunities.

U.S Reshoring: Reality or Rhetoric?

Reshoring isn't a full return of manufacturing — it's a rebalancing.

• The U.S. holds competitive advantages in energy costs for capital-intensive industries.
• High interest rates and tariffs complicate investment decisions.
• Smaller projects are often easier to site than megaprojects.

The key? Understanding where your community truly competes.

The Evolution of Virtual Site Visits

• Virtual tours are now a legitimate step in site selection.
• Communities must have accurate, organized, and accessible data.
• Speed matters — but speed without preparation increases risk.

"You need to have the right information."

Preparing Communities for Investment

Successful communities:

• Know their strengths and weaknesses.
• Maintain updated site data and infrastructure assessments.
• Align utilities, workforce, and leadership.
• Act as problem solvers — not just marketers.

"We have to demonstrate we can deliver."

Key Takeaways for Economic Developers

• Investment readiness beats incentive generosity.
• Discipline beats optimism every time.
• Long-term thinking outperforms short-term wins.
• Preparation reduces risk.
• Speed without diligence leads to costly mistakes.
• Communities must prove viability — not just promise it.

About Didi

Didi Caldwell is President and CEO of Global Location Strategies, a world leader in site selection and incentive negotiation services and a two-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list.

She is a member — and former chairperson — of the prestigious Site Selectors Guild and currently serves as Chair of the REDI Sites initiative. Didi holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Clemson University and an international MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business.

With expertise in large-scale manufacturing and heavy industrial projects, she has guided some of the world's most complex location decisions.

The largest economic development project in North Carolina history is taking flight.

In this episode of Develop This!, guests Marvin Price and Abbie Jordan Currens take listeners behind the scenes of JetZero's monumental decision to build a $4.7 billion advanced manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina — a project expected to create more than 14,500 jobs.

JetZero's aerospace manufacturing campus isn't just another announcement. It represents a transformational moment for Greensboro, the Piedmont Triad region, and the entire state.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why JetZero selected Greensboro and the strategic advantages of North Carolina
• How site readiness and airport-adjacent infrastructure became the deciding factors
• The critical role of workforce training and education partnerships
• How state and local collaboration created a winning environment
• What this project means for long-term innovation and aerospace growth
• Lessons learned for economic developers working on large-scale projects

As Marvin shares, "It was magical when we won." And as Abby explains, "The airport was a game changer."

This conversation is a masterclass in preparation, partnership, and persistence — and a roadmap for communities competing for transformative projects.

Key Topics & Themes

• JetZero and aerospace manufacturing expansion
• Greensboro, North Carolina as a strategic location
• Site selection and certified site readiness
• Infrastructure investment and airport access
• Workforce training and education alignment
• Public-private collaboration
• Long-term community and economic impact
• Innovation ecosystem development

In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Brian Abernathy and Clint Nessmith to discuss the strategic merger of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions and Resource Development Group.

This isn't a consolidation story — it's a growth strategy.

Brian shares how Convergent Nonprofit Solutions was founded during the 2008 financial crisis to bring greater efficiency and innovation to nonprofit fundraising. Clint reflects on Resource Development Group's roots dating back to 1995, focusing exclusively on economic development fundraising and campaign strategy.

Together, they unpack:

• Why today's economic development organizations require increasingly specialized fundraising expertise
• How quality of place has become central to business attraction and retention
• The unique fundraising realities facing rural communities
• Why collaboration between firms can deliver a deeper impact than competition
• How data analysis and shared resources will strengthen client outcomes
• Leadership lessons learned from navigating a major transition

The conversation highlights a critical truth for today's development professionals: trust, adaptability, and cooperation are the new currency of sustainable growth.

As funding models evolve and communities demand more measurable results, this merger signals a broader shift in how nonprofit solutions and economic development strategy intersect.

Key Takeaways

• Convergent Nonprofit Solutions was launched during the 2008 financial crisis to rethink fundraising efficiency.
• Resource Development Group has specialized in economic development fundraising since 1995.
• The merger represents expansion and enhanced service capacity — not downsizing.
• Specialized services are increasingly necessary in economic development.
• Quality of place directly impacts talent attraction and business retention.
• Rural communities require tailored fundraising strategies.
• Strategic collaboration can elevate service delivery and outcomes.
• Trust and cooperation are foundational in business partnerships.
• Leadership transitions create opportunities for innovation.
• Data analysis will enhance strategic decision-making and client impact.