Dane talks to Sarah Thompson about rolling up your sleeves and figuring out a new path if your rural community needs help. According to Sarah, there is nothing that can stop those who truly want a better future for their downtown and community. It takes hard work and committed volunteers.

Special Guest: Sarah Thompson.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Rural Revitalization LLC – Re-Imagining the Past to Revitalize our Future
• Destination Diaries - YouTube
• Sarah Thompson | LinkedIn

In this episode, Dane talks with Jim Searcy, executive director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama.

Special Guest: Jim Searcy.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• EDAA – Economic Development Association of Alabama
• Jim Searcy | LinkedIn

In this episode, Dane talks with Alejandra Castillo, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and the head of the Economic Development Administration.

We discuss:

Special Guest: Alejandra Castillo.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• U.S. Economic Development Administration
• Funding Opportunities | U.S. Economic Development Administration
• EDA And Disaster Recovery | U.S. Economic Development Administration
• U.S. Economic Development Administration Newsletter

Dane talks to Jay Garner, president and founder of Garner Economics, and the former chair of both the IEDC and Site Selectors Guild, about his new book "Economic Development is Still Not for Amateurs".

Special Guest: Jay Garner.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Economic Development Is Not for Amateurs! (Paperback)
• Economic Development Is [STILL] Not for Amateurs! (Kindle)
• Garner Economics - Economic development consulting – economic strategy

In this episode, Matthew Tate explains to host Dane Carlson how to craft your community's elevator pitch. Matthew Tate has spent the past 10 years at Retail Strategies working directly with cities in order to help them perfect their elevator speeches. Through data and analytics, he helps cities understand their unique story in order to make a more impactful pitch to potential businesses that may locate in their market.

Special Guest: Matthew Tate.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Econ Dev Show — The Econ Dev Show is a podcast, weekday email newsletter, and blog of actionable strategies, fresh news, insights, and ideas from the economic development community and your host, Dane Carlson.
• Retail Strategies - Retail and Real Estate Experts for Communities
• Matthew Tate - Retail Strategies
• Matthew Tate | LinkedIn
• Resources - Retail Strategies

Dane talks with Emily Blaylock, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Northwest Bank about Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Northwest Bank & Trust Company is an entrepreneurial bank that has built an Economic Development Division to help developers and municipalities get projects done around the US. They utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) incentives designated from the municipalities to give developers funds upfront. These funds can be used to provide gap equity, expansion of existing sites, investment in other projects, working capital needs, or tenant improvements. Currently, they have completed projects in 8 states and over $400 million in funding. Their team has over 100 years of combined education in economic development and banking to help structure these loans.

Special Guest: Emily Blaylock.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Northwest Bank and Trust
• TIF Monetization Loan Program | Northwest Bank and Trust
• Youtube: What is Tax Increment Financing (TIF)?
• Northwest Bank & Trust Company | LinkedIn
• Northwest Bank & Trust Company | Facebook

Chris Johnson is the Director of Johnston County Economic Development in North Carolina. Imagine how difficult it must be to give out his email address.

Dane and Chris talk about Chris's background in retail and what new perspectives he's brought to economic development including thinking of a spec building as a loss leader.

Special Guest: Chris Johnson.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Rob Sitterley is a real pro. He's worked in a local community, statewide and now works in regional economic development. In this episode, the President & CEO of AR-TX Regional Economic Development Inc. shares his tactics to make you better economic developer. He also gives us some insight into Texarkana, and doing economic development for two different states.

Special Guest: Rob Sitterley.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Rob Sitterley | LinkedIn
• Texarkana Regional Economic Development | AR-TX REDI
• AR-TX Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) selects Rob Sitterley as first President and CEO | Texarkana Today
• TAP into TEXARKANA | AR-TX REDI - YouTube
• We ARE Texarkana | AR-TX REDI - YouTube
• Two Universities One Texarkana | AR-TX REDI - YouTube
• Ledwell School of Advanced Manufacturing at Texarkana College | AR-TX REDI - YouTube
• TAP into TEXARKANA | AR-TX REDI - YouTube
• Amazon.com: Outliers: The Story of Success eBook : Gladwell, Malcolm

Dane and Cole Przybyla talk about Cole's unique business retention and attraction tactics in rural California.

Special Guest: Cole Przybyla.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Cole Przybyla | LinkedIn
• Business Assistance | Innovation & Business Assistance | Tuolumne County
• Przybyla Unanimously Hired As Tuolumne County Economic Development Director | myMotherLode.com
• Cole Przybyla, Director of InnovatIon, Tuolumne County: Growth, Stability & Innovation in Rural Economies Episode 19 | Listen Notes
• Cole Przybyla, Director of InnovatIon, Tuolumne County: Growth, Stability & Innovation in Rural Economies Episode 19 MP3 Song Download by Arroyo West (Hack My Business - season - 2)| Listen Cole Przybyla, Director of InnovatIon, Tuolumne County: Growth, Stability & Innovation in Rural Economies Episode 19 Song Free Online
• Three industries identified for development | News | uniondemocrat.com
• More than 4.4K jobs retained in Tuolumne County through PPP loans | News | uniondemocrat.com
• Tuolumne talks Business on Apple Podcasts

In this episode, Dane talks to Kristen Gamboa. She is the Senior Economic Developer for the Village of Los Lunas. She has been instrumental in helping existing businesses expand and grow, as well actively market and bring in new economic-base businesses to the second fastest growing community in New Mexico. Prior to this, she was the Director of Business Development for the New Mexico Partnership where she actively engaged with companies, C-suite executives, and site consultants looking for expansion, relocation, or new project opportunities across the Land of Enchantment.

According to Kristen, "New Mexico is a hidden gem that is still a little rough around the edges but with more regionalized economic development strategies you're going to hear and see more companies expanding to our 'Land of Enchantment'."

Special Guest: Kristen Gamboa.

Sponsored By:

• Econ Dev Pro: Upgrade your subscription and support the Econ Dev Show with a paid membership. Plus AI in Economic Development and other bonuses.

Links:

• Economic Development of Los Lunas
• Kristen Gamboa on LinkedIn
• The New Mexico Partnership — The state designated single-point-of-contact for companies considering New Mexico for their next expansion.
• Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance — AREA leads and executes strategies designed to grow and diversify the economic base of the greater Albuquerque region, creating a prosperous, diverse and inclusive economy and elevating the standard of living for all.