Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development

By Dane CarlsonBusiness Government Marketing Non-Profit

Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development episodes

May 26, 2025175: Transforming Second-Tier Markets into Economic Powerhouses with Barry Broome
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Barry Broome, President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
Dane and Barry explore Sacramento's remarkable economic transformation. Barry highlights how Sacramento has leveraged its strategic location 72 miles east of San Francisco to become one of America's premier second-tier markets, emerging as a semiconductor hub while diversifying into clean tech and agricultural research sectors.
Throughout the conversation, Barry shares his data-driven approach to economic development, his passion for working with underdog cities, and the challenges he overcame to build community trust and create a thriving economic ecosystem in California's capital region.
Barry shares insights on economic development, leadership, and the importance of data-driven decisions in driving regional growth.
The episode also covers his personal background, emphasizing Barry's passion for economic development in underdog cities and his experiences in navigating and overcoming initial challenges to build a thriving community.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:20 Discovering Sacramento
02:40 Sacramento's Economic Growth
04:40 Semiconductor Hub Vision
09:44 Infrastructure and Utilities
11:41 Target Sectors Beyond Semiconductors
14:08 Barry Broome's Journey
21:16 Challenges and Achievements
25:20 Building a Strong Board
29:05 Barry's Background and Philosophy
34:55 Conclusion and Contact Information
Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Leverage your geographic proximity to major economic centers; Sacramento's 72-mile distance from San Francisco became a strategic advantage rather than a limitation.
Diversify your economic base beyond traditional anchors; Sacramento moved beyond government dependence to semiconductors, clean tech, and agricultural research.
Position your community as a second-tier market alternative to expensive primary markets, offering similar talent and infrastructure at better cost basis.
Use data-driven decision making to guide your economic development strategy and demonstrate measurable results to stakeholders.
Build strong board governance early; invest time in assembling committed leaders who can provide stability and strategic direction.
Target emerging sectors where your region has natural advantages; Sacramento capitalized on its research universities and proximity to Silicon Valley for semiconductor development.
Develop compelling narratives around your community's diversity and quality of life as competitive advantages for business attraction.
Address infrastructure and utilities proactively as foundational elements for sector-specific development strategies.
Embrace your role as an "underdog city champion"; sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are in communities others overlook.
Focus on long-term relationship building and community trust, understanding that transformational economic development takes years to achieve and sustain.
Special Guest: Barry Broome.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Barry Broome | LinkedIn
Home - Greater Sac Economic Council
The Way We Work: Barry Broome | Comstock's magazine
California 2030: Greater Sacramento Economic Council President Barry Broome - YouTube
Team - Greater Sac Economic Council
The Semiconductor Industry's Dynamic Nature and Continuous Evolution | Nasdaq
News & events - Greater Sac Economic Council
37 min
May 19, 2025174: Building a Regional Brand: Kansas City's Marketing Success with Jonathan Knecht
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson interviews Jonathan Knecht, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Creative Services at the Kansas City Area Development Council, who reveals how his team markets the greater Kansas City region to attract business investment and talent. Jonathan, a self-described "refugee from advertising" who's been with the organization for 21 years, discusses their collaborative approach to regional branding centered around the iconic KC Heart logo, their focus on key industry sectors like digital health and sports architecture, and how Kansas City's central location, affordability, and quality of life create competitive advantages. He also shares insights on building consensus across state lines and how their in-house creative agency supports economic development efforts throughout the region.
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Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Consider adopting organically popular community symbols rather than creating new brands from scratch to ensure authenticity and community buy-in.
Build collaborative relationships across political boundaries to present a unified front when pursuing major projects and investments.
Leverage your region's unique industry clusters (like KC's sports architecture) to create compelling specialization stories for targeted marketing.
Create an in-house creative agency to support marketing needs across your region, especially for partners with limited budgets.
Develop talent attraction initiatives like KC's "Team KC" that connect employers and equip them with shared marketing resources.
Create specialized content for different audiences, such as belonging guides for various cultural communities, to support talent recruitment efforts.
Focus on tracking meaningful metrics tied to actual business attraction and expansion results rather than just marketing activities.
Identify and promote quality of life advantages such as central location, cost of living, and cultural amenities as competitive differentiators.
Establish sector-specific initiatives (like KC's Digital Health and Animal Health Corridor) to target industries where your region has competitive advantages.
End counter-productive incentive competitions between neighboring communities to better focus resources on attracting new businesses to the region.
Special Guest: Jonathan Knecht.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Jonathan Knecht | LinkedIn
Kansas City Area Development Council | Home
KC Heartland | Facebook
Kansas City Area Development Council | LinkedIn
KCADC (@ithinkKC) / X
KC Area Development Council on Vimeo
KC Area Development Council (@ithinkkc) • Instagram photos and videos
32 min
May 12, 2025173: From Possibilities to Reality: How to Save Your Small Town with Deb Brown
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Deb Brown, co-founder of Save Your Town and author of "From Possibilities to Reality: How to Save Your Small Town." They discuss Brown's workbook-style approach to small town economic development, sharing practical examples of community revitalization, including movie theater revitalization as an economic driver. Brown offers insights on addressing resistance to change by exploring what people truly valued about their towns in the past, and provides actionable strategies for community members who want to make a difference in their small towns.
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Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Implement the "idea friendly method" to bypass traditional committee bureaucracy and mobilize community-driven economic development projects.
Organize "Tour of Empty Buildings" events to showcase vacant commercial spaces and connect potential business owners with available properties.
Focus on attracting and supporting local businesses to expand into empty downtown spaces rather than solely pursuing large outside employers.
Create accessible maps and resources that showcase available commercial properties to potential investors and entrepreneurs.
Engage residents outside the "usual suspects" (city officials, chamber members) by hosting informal idea-gathering sessions at local coffee shops or breweries.
When communities resist change, dig into what they specifically valued about the past to identify the core needs that modern solutions can address.
Develop sustainable business models for community assets (like movie theaters) that create real employment rather than relying exclusively on volunteers.
Establish clear pathways from idea generation to implementation that don't require formal committee formation or extensive bureaucratic processes.
Prioritize filling downtown vacancies with businesses that serve current community needs while preserving historical character.
Leverage success stories from similar small towns as proof-of-concept examples when pitching new development ideas to stakeholders and building owners.
Special Guest: Deb Brown.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Debra Brown | LinkedIn
SaveYour.Town – Practical steps to shape a better future for your community, small town, rural or local neighborhood
BuyTheBook - Building Possibility
From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories: Lulu
From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town with these Uniquely Do-able Ideas, Projects, and Success Stories by Deb Brown
Building Possibility - Facebook
Mentions Library - Deb Brown | Building Possibility
About - Deb Brown | Building Possibility
28 min
May 05, 2025172: Pennsylvania's First Economic Strategy in 20 Years with Aaron Pitts
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with Aaron Pitts, Chief Commercial Officer for Business PA, who shares how Pennsylvania is revitalizing its economic development approach under Governor Shapiro's administration.
Aaron explains the creation of Business PA, a dedicated unit within the Department of Community and Economic Development focused exclusively on building and maintaining business relationships. He details Pennsylvania's strategic advantages as a founding state with major cities, rural areas, and world-class educational institutions like UPenn and Carnegie Mellon, while highlighting their focus on five key sectors: life sciences, manufacturing, energy, AI/tech, and business services.
Listeners learn about Pennsylvania's impressive $500 million investment in site development, streamlined permitting processes that reduced business license waits from eight weeks to two days, and how Pittsburgh has emerged as a global AI leader with companies like Google, Nvidia, and Duolingo.
Aaron also shares insights from his previous experience helping create JobsOhio and explains why leaving corporate America for economic development has been so personally fulfilling.
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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Create dedicated units focused solely on business relationships within your economic development organization to ensure businesses receive specialized attention.
Invest significantly in site readiness programs with dedicated funding to create shovel-ready locations that can immediately accommodate business relocations.
Implement a concierge service for permitting to help businesses navigate regulatory processes more efficiently and combat negative perceptions about permitting complexity.
Identify and focus on 4-5 key sectors where your region has competitive advantages rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
Build regional partnerships with clear roles and responsibilities for business retention, expansion and attraction activities to present a unified front to prospective companies.
Bring corporate experience into economic development leadership to better understand and speak the language of business executives.
Develop a strategy that balances care for incumbent businesses while positioning your region to attract cutting-edge industries.
Create a disciplined financial model to evaluate incentive offers that ensures both the business and the region benefit from each deal.
Leverage educational institutions as key partners in workforce development and innovation to create distinct advantages in specific sectors.
Foster an attitudinal shift within economic development organizations from reactive to proactive engagement with businesses to demonstrate that you genuinely care about their success.
Special Guest: Aaron Pitts.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Business in Pennsylvania | PA DCED
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development: Posts | LinkedIn
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development | Facebook
PA DCED - YouTube
— PA DCED
Aaron Pitts | LinkedIn
23 min
April 28, 2025171: Leading Virginia's Largest Economy with Victor Hoskins
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Victor Hoskins, President and CEO of Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, who oversees Virginia's largest economy and leads a team that has secured approximately $3 billion in capital investment. Victor shares insights from his unique career spanning both public and private sectors, including his instrumental role in securing Amazon HQ2 during his time at Arlington Economic Development. With candid reflections on his education at MIT, experience in private equity, and passion for creating economic opportunity, Victor reveals his philosophy that has helped companies create over 38,000 jobs in Fairfax County – a place he describes as "where companies come to dent the universe."
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!
Special Guest: Victor Hoskins.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Victor Hoskins | LinkedIn
FFX NOVA Business
The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton M. Christensen
26 min
April 21, 2025170: The Art of Downtown Transformation in Birmingham with David Fleming
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with David Fleming, president and CEO of Rev Birmingham, about transforming Birmingham from an industrial city into a thriving service economy centered around healthcare and education. Fleming discusses how his organization fosters downtown vibrancy by preserving historic character, supporting local businesses that "make the city cool," ensuring economic and racial diversity, and collaborating with various municipal authorities to create a downtown that attracts over 30 million annual visitors while maintaining its unique identity.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!
Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Focus on supporting local businesses that give your city a unique character and "make the city cool."
Create incentives that help historic redevelopment while still allowing for new growth.
Work in partnership with various city authorities (parking, transit, housing) to align development goals.
Develop housing incentives that encourage economic diversity, not just luxury developments.
Measure downtown success by evening vibrancy and residential activity, not just daytime business metrics.
Recognize the importance of maintaining racial and economic diversity in downtown development plans.
Position anchor institutions like healthcare and universities as catalysts for urban revitalization.
Balance the needs of various stakeholders: residents, workers, and visitors.
Create development tools that preserve local character while encouraging economic growth.
Focus on making downtown a destination with diverse attractions that can draw millions of visitors annually.
Special Guest: David Fleming.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
REV Birmingham is creating vibrant places
Downtown Birmingham
David Fleming | LinkedIn
REV Birmingham (@revbham) • Instagram
REV Birmingham - Facebook
REV Birmingham: Overview | LinkedIn
Downtown Birmingham (@downtownbhm) • Instagram
Downtown BHM - Facebook
Downtown Birmingham: Overview | LinkedIn
Downtowns will evolve and survive - Birmingham Business Journal
Do Business - Downtown Birmingham
The Death and Life of Great American Cities (50th Anniversary Edition) by Jane Jacobs
31 min
April 14, 2025169: Reimagining Urban Industrial Spaces for Modern Manufacturing with Lindsay Greene
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson speaks with Lindsay Greene, CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, about transforming industrial spaces for modern manufacturing. Greene shares insights on the challenges of changing perceptions about manufacturing careers, the importance of integrating workforce development with economic strategy, and her unusual career path from investment banking to grocery e-commerce before leading a major industrial development. The conversation explores how the Navy Yard creates accessible economic opportunities, the difficulties of attracting grocery stores to underserved areas, and Greene's passion for industrial policy as a driver of economic growth.
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Ten Actionable Takeaways
Consider integrating workforce development and economic development under one organizational structure to reduce friction and align goals.
Modernize perceptions of manufacturing by highlighting how today's industrial jobs offer sustainable careers without requiring advanced degrees.
Create flexible spaces like pop-up opportunities for businesses not ready to commit to permanent locations.
Recognize the unique challenges of attracting grocery stores and develop targeted strategies for food access in underserved areas.
Leverage social media (like Instagram) and accessible communication channels to connect with community members and businesses.
Balance preservation of industrial/waterfront spaces with the need for evolution to meet modern economic needs.
Build strategic partnerships that enhance both economic opportunity and quality of life for residents.
Develop demonstration projects that showcase how traditional industries are transforming for the future.
Consider how your personal and professional background, even if unconventional, brings valuable perspective to economic development work.
Create open channels of communication between your executive team and the public to foster engagement and collaboration.
Special Guest: Lindsay Greene.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation | LinkedIn
Brooklyn Navy Yard (@BklynNavyYard) / X
Brooklyn Navy Yard (@bklynnavyyard) • Instagram
Alumni Spotlight: Lindsay Greene '11 - YouTube
Brooklyn Navy Yard CEO Lindsay Greene on keeping innovation in NYC | Crain's New York Business
36 min
April 07, 2025168: Reimagining Economic Transformation for Distressed Communities with Rohan Sandhu
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Rohan Sandhu, co-founder of the Reimagining the Economy Project at Harvard Kennedy School, to examine the convergence of industrial policy, market crafting, and place-based economic development strategies. Drawing on his 15 years of experience at the intersection of research and practice, Sandhu discusses how traditional economic development approaches often fail distressed communities due to uncoordinated policies and limited local capacity. They explore how forward-looking economic transformation requires moving beyond reactive, transactional approaches to development and better aligning workforce systems with economic growth initiatives. Sandhu's insights from his work on projects like "Bottom-Up Bidenomics" and "The US Place-Based Policy Supply Chain" offer practical guidance for practitioners seeking to build more resilient local economies.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!
Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Shift from reactive, crisis-driven economic development to forward-looking strategies with a clear vision for transformation.
Focus on building local institutional capacity as a foundation for implementing any economic development initiative.
Identify and address the coordination gaps between overlapping economic development policies at federal, state, and local levels.
Recognize the limitations of matching fund requirements that often exclude the most distressed communities from accessing resources.
Develop funding models for local intermediary organizations that support capacity-building, not just project implementation.
Integrate workforce development explicitly into economic growth strategies rather than treating them as separate domains.
Use data visualization tools like economyinplace.com to better understand local labor markets and policy flows in your region.
Examine how industrial policy principles can be applied practically to support small and medium enterprises in your community.
Identify opportunities for "productive upgrading" of service sectors that absorb local labor.
Design economic development strategies that directly target persistent economic distress rather than focusing primarily on already-advantaged areas.
Special Guest: Rohan Sandhu.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Rohan Sandhu | LinkedIn
Rohan Sandhu | Harvard Kennedy School
Industrial Policy Is a Verb - ProMarket
Servicing Development: Productive Upgrading of Labor-Absorbing Services in Developing Economies
Industrial policy for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises | VoxDev
Policy Works Podcast | Harvard Kennedy School
Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka
Power, for All: How It Really Works and Why It's Everyone's Business: Julie Battilana and Tiziana Casciaro
31 min
March 31, 2025167: Digital Marketing Strategies for EDOs with Alissa Sklar
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson speaks with marketing consultant Alissa Sklar about effective digital strategies for economic development organizations. They discuss leveraging AI tools while maintaining an authentic voice, website management tips for small EDOs, content amplification through LinkedIn, and how to build partnerships with educational institutions. Alissa offers practical advice for economic developers wearing multiple hats, emphasizing how to maximize impact with limited resources and time.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!
Actionable Takeaways
Use AI tools like ChatGPT to draft content, but always rewrite it to match your organization's voice and verify all information.
Amplify LinkedIn posts by having your director and board members repost content with additional commentary to significantly increase reach.
Define clear objectives for all marketing content (website visits, downloads, event attendance) before creation.
Avoid using auto-translate features that might make your organization appear to have capabilities it doesn't.
Partner with local universities or community colleges for mutually beneficial marketing projects.
Repurpose and leverage the same content across different platforms to maximize efficiency.
Develop a consistent hashtag strategy for your organization's social media posts.
Focus website content on what visitors need rather than internal organizational structures.
Build relationships with educational institutions to connect with future business leaders.
For small EDOs, prioritize quality website content over trying to maintain presence on too many platforms.
Special Guest: Alissa Sklar.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Sklar Consulting – Innovative digital marketing strategy for B2B and economic development
Alissa Sklar, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
Sklar Consulting | LinkedIn
White Papers – Sklar Consulting
Economic Development Marketing & Priorities | fDi Insights
29 min
March 24, 2025166: Building Arkansas's Economic Future: Adapting to Changing Workforce Priorities with Clint O'Neal
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson sits down with Clint O'Neal, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, to discuss the evolution of economic development over his 17-year career spanning both Missouri and Arkansas. O'Neal shares his path from junior high teacher to economic development leader, highlights successful foreign direct investment projects, and emphasizes the importance of customer service in working with businesses. He also offers perspective on how economic development is adapting to changing workforce priorities, with quality of life and community attractiveness becoming increasingly important factors as people choose where to live before finding employment.
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!
10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
Focus intensely on customer service when working with prospective businesses, as exceptional service can differentiate your location.
Recognize that workers increasingly choose locations first and jobs second, making quality of life initiatives critical.
Develop "risk-free" industrial sites that accelerate timelines and build company confidence in your location.
Leverage data and AI tools to speed up information exchange with site selectors and businesses.
Build strong relationships between economic development efforts and government leadership for coordinated responses.
Create memorable experiences for visiting executives that showcase your region's unique advantages.
Invest in outdoor recreation and quality of life amenities that make your community attractive to today's mobile workforce.
Understand that economic development success often comes from coordinating multiple elements (tax policy, site readiness, incentives) simultaneously.
Network with other economic development professionals to continuously learn and improve practices.
Consider how shifts in business priorities (such as location flexibility) can be leveraged to benefit your community's recruitment efforts.
Special Guest: Clint O'Neal.
Sponsored By:
Sitehunt: Sitehunt gives economic developers both AI-powered site selection software and a team of experts ready to do the work for you.
Schedule a demo at sitehunt.io/demo.
Links:
Clint O'Neal, CEcD | LinkedIn
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Arkansas Year in Review 2024 - YouTube
Why Arkansas - YouTube
31 min

About Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development

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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…