In this episode, Dane Carlson interviews Cameron Law, the executive director of the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Sacramento. Cameron delves into the center's mission to support entrepreneurs and drive economic development in the region. He provides valuable insights into the various industries thriving in Sacramento, including food and agriculture, life sciences, and clean technology.

As a regional resource, the Carlsen Center offers programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. Cameron discusses his day-to-day activities, which involve one-on-one consulting, partnership building, and running cohort programs. He shares his personal journey and the deep-rooted passion he has for making Sacramento a premier hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The concept of "Topophilia" or love of place is explored is also explored, emphasizing the intentional building of businesses and creating opportunities within the community. Listeners gain access to valuable resources such as recommended books, organizations, and certifications related to entrepreneurship and ecosystem building.

Cameron encourages engagement and offers his support to those interested in connecting and driving entrepreneurship in their own communities.

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Special Guest: Cameron Law.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Cameron R. Law | LinkedIn
• The Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Sacramento State
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Join Dane as he dives deep into the intricacies of the Jones Act with guest Colin Grabow, a research fellow at the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies.

In this episode, we discuss the requirements and implications of the Jones Act, and how it affects the cost and efficiency of shipping within the United States. Colin provides an in-depth analysis of the Act's effects on economic development, with a particular focus on its impacts on the coastal regions of Texas. We also explore potential paths forward and solutions to mitigate the negative effects of the Act on the domestic economy.

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Special Guest: Colin Grabow.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Colin Grabow | Cato Institute
• Colin Grabow (@cpgrabow) / Twitter
• Colin Grabow | LinkedIn
• Fed up with High Gas Prices and Slow Amazon Deliveries? Blame These 2 Century-Old Laws That Need to Be Repealed. | Cato Institute — To avoid higher costs, many companies are forced to turn to imports.
• Against the Jones Act - Truth on the Market Truth on the Market
• Protectionism and the Development of the U.S. Maritime Industry | The Regulatory Review — U.S. maritime protectionism fails policy and economic goals.

In today's episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, Dane unpacks the dynamic puzzle of industrial growth and community development in the charming realm of Franklin, Virginia, known for its beautiful blend of agricultural roots and emerging industries.

It's an intriguing tale that unfolds with our esteemed guest, Karl Heck, a man who knows a thing or two about economic development since he's the President and CEO of the Franklin Southampton Economic Development.

And surprise - Karl is also quite fond of chess! So, legions of listeners, prepare yourselves for a journey where economic strategies might just be delivered with a side of knight-to-e5 checkmate. Here's a spoiler - it's more fun than getting cornered by your own bishop in a chess game!

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Special Guest: Karl Heck.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Karl Heck | LinkedIn
• Department of Economic Development for Franklin Southampton County | Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc.
• The Nine Nations of North America: Garreau, Joel: 9780380578856: Amazon.com: Books

In this episode, Dane sparks an engaging conversation with Lina Rugova, the founder, and president of Emerge and Rise, a nonprofit business incubator in San Antonio, Texas. Lina provides an insider's look into the role and importance of business incubators for budding entrepreneurs and the support she provides to startups to not just survive, but thrive.

Following a compelling discussion on the incubator's unique approach to promoting entrepreneurship, the episode also explores the challenges that new entrepreneurs face while stepping into the business world, the dire need for partnerships and collaboration within cities, and the heartwarming success stories of Lina's program.

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Special Guest: Lina Rugova.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Lina G. Rugova, M.M. | LinkedIn
• Emerge and Rise - Business Incubator of San Antonio
• Undercover Billionaire | Discovery
• The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential eBook : Maxwell, John C.: Kindle Store
• Small Business Administration
• SCORE
• The DEC Network

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson discusses the book "From Relevant to Essential: Five Key Insights for Chambers of Commerce" by Casey Steinbach.

It addresses the tension between serving individual businesses (the "me" members) and focusing on supporting the community as a whole (the "we" members).

Carlson appreciates how the author recognizes that there are different types of members in a chamber of commerce: those who join for direct benefits and those who support the community's overall development.

He appreciates Steinbach's call for a more community-oriented focus among chambers, as well as her insight into the conflicts that arise from trying to provide services to both types of members. He highly recommends the book for individuals who work within chambers of commerce or who seek to understand their evolving roles and challenges.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Amazon.com: From Relevant to Essential: Five Key Insights for Chambers of Commerce eBook : Steinbacher, Casey: Kindle Store
• Casey Steinbacher | LinkedIn
• Finding Next

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Dane Carlson shares his experiences using the AI tool ChatGPT for economic development tasks. Built for interacting with OpenAI's models, the chatbot's capacity to understand and generate human-like text has made it a radically transformative tool. Dane talks about various applications for AI technology in economic development and compares it to other automation tools often used in economic development offices.

Dane discusses how ChatGPT can be harnessed for a range of tasks, including blog post generation, social media marketing, writing emails, summarizing texts in different styles, and analysis tasks, all without requiring any programming skills.

Additionally, Dane has created numerous videos on AI-based workflows designed to support professionals in economic development. To access them, join Econ Dev Pro.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• OpenAI
• ChatGPT
• How to Write a Blog Post with ChatGPT
• How to Analyze Legalese with Chat GPT
• AI in Economic Development - Econ Dev Show
• ADVANCED - Clone of ChatGPT, uses official model, Bing, PaLM 2, reverse-engineered UI, with AI model switching, message search, ChatGPT Plugins, Multi-User System, & Prompt Templates (WIP) — The tool that Dane uses to access ChatGPT

In this episode, Dane has an in-depth conversation with Jose Alfaro, CEO of CO.STARTERS, a dynamic entrepreneurial accelerator program designed to equip creative entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and support to turn their passion into a profitable business.

Jose shared the inspiring journey of CO.STARTERS, from its beginnings in Chattanooga, Tennessee, inspired by a desire to revitalize the city and attract major corporations like Volkswagen, to its current global reach spanning over 210 cities across 24 states and multiple countries. The program, which started under a non-profit initiative, went private in 2016, broadening its horizons and allowing it to have a significant impact on a global scale.

Throughout the episode, Jose emphasized the unique approach of the CO.STARTERS program. Instead of adopting a traditional teaching methodology, CO.STARTERS is built around facilitation, with the program directors guiding participants towards their customers to validate their business ideas. This innovative approach has resulted in not only robust business formation but also organic collaborations and mergers among the participants.

Key to the CO.STARTERS model is their focus on building community. Participants are grouped into cohorts of 10 to 16 people, fostering an environment of peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and cooperation. Jose shared fascinating anecdotes of how this peer interaction has led to the formation of successful businesses and collaborations.

The conversation also delved into the curriculum of the program, which has been designed to simplify complex business concepts and make them accessible to creative entrepreneurs who might not have a traditional business background. Beyond the curriculum, the program also serves as a front door to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting graduates to a variety of resources, from the SBA to different accelerators and pitch competitions.

Jose Alfaro's passion for supporting creative entrepreneurs was evident throughout the conversation. If you're interested in the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship, or if you're a part of a community that could benefit from a program like CO.STARTERS, this episode is not to be missed.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Jose Alfaro.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Jose Alfaro | LinkedIn
• CO.STARTERS | Help Entrepreneurs Build Thriving Businesses
• Why Main Street Businesses Fail—and How to Save Them | CO.STARTERS
• The CO.STARTERS® Story
• CO.STARTERS Webinar
• CO.STARTERS Videos
• Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch

In this Econ Dev Show podcast episode, Dane Carlson interviews Alia Abbas, former Economic Development Officer for the City of Toronto, who shares her insights on business continuity, the importance of small businesses in community development, and the concept of "employment lands" in Canada.

Alia emphasizes the crucial role of small and family-owned businesses as advocates and champions for their communities, and the growing trend towards sustainability and greener economies in economic development.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Alia Abbas.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Alia Abbas, MA, BREC | LinkedIn
• Alia Consulting
• Preparing for Megaprojects in Economic Development: FDI Alliance International Magazine
• BIDs Can Be Opportunities for Foreign Trade and FDI | ED Now Feature
• A Manual for Developing an Economic Recovery Plan & Task Force for Investment Attraction: Rural EDOs (R-EDO) Edition
• Alia Consulting - Economic Development Firm | LinkedIn — Alia Consulting
• Who's Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life by Richard Florida

In this podcast episode, Dane Carlson talks with Larry Holt, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation's Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development.

Holt shares his insights on the human-centered approach to economic development. According to Holt, economic development is all about serving the communities and providing them with opportunities that will improve their lives.

He also discusses the challenges and opportunities of economic development in California, a state with a massive population boom after World War II that has led to significant housing supply issues. He acknowledges that the birthplace of the environmental movement and taxation policies have also contributed to restrictions on new housing growth, making it difficult to keep working-class families in their homes. However, he remains optimistic about the state's concerted effort to drive new housing supply and incentivize more housing around public transportation, which will help meet California's climate goals.

Despite the challenges, Holt believes that economic development is more relevant than ever, and economic developers have a crucial role to play in driving the future of their communities. He notes that they must be larger voices for pro-housing policies, advocate for resources for workforce systems, and have a broader view of economic development beyond just attracting businesses. In closing, Holt expresses his excitement about the future of Los Angeles and California's economic development and the role he and his colleagues play in shaping their communities' future.

Special Guest: Larry Holt.

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Larry Holt | LinkedIn
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
• Certain to Win: The Strategy of John Boyd, Applied to Business (Amazon)

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Ask Dane. Every week, you ask, and I answer. Sometimes the questions only need short answers, and other-times they require tons of research or contemplation. This issue is a little of both.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Sponsored By:

• KathodeRay Media, Inc.: 

Links:

• Ask Dane #1: Starship Edition
• SpaceX
• Starship Test Flight
• South Padre Island
• Margaritaville Beach Resort - South Padre Island Beach Hotel
• Starship Launch from South Padre Island 4/20/23 - YouTube
• Obsidian