For many communities, the outdoor economy is still treated as a soft amenity rather than a serious economic lever, even though it generates over $650 billion in economic impact each year.

In this episode, Ross Berlin, Senior Consultant at Fourth Economy, makes the case for why that needs to change. We dig into how outdoor assets connect directly to talent attraction in the modern economic development equation, get practical about the challenges (seasonality, overcrowding, equity of access), and how communities can work through them to maximize the economic impact of what they already have.

00:00 Why outdoor recreation matters as an economic development topic

02:45 The data and impact

05:45 Defining the outdoor economy (it's bigger than you think)

08:33 Benefits of investing in outdoor recreation

11:38 Challenges economic developers face

14:31 Competition between communities

17:42 How outdoor rec fits into talent attraction campaigns

20:41 Preservation and "champagne problems"

24:58 Equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation

28:27 Final thoughts and fun closing question

Resources Mentioned:

• The Amenity Trap: https://headwaterseconomics.org/outdoor-recreation/amenity-trap/

At Livability, we highlight the nation's most vibrant small and mid-sized cities as a trusted voice for communities across America. We help places attract talent and reach target companies through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Short-term workforce training is only as strong as what happens after graduation.

In this episode, Kevin Golumbeck, Director of CareerEdge at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, shares how the Bridges to Careers program has built an employer engagement model that looks different depending on the industry - from closed-door job fairs at the Chamber to contractors visiting classrooms directly.

He also explains what drives their consistently high completion rates and the wraparound supports that help participants get to the finish line.

If you're looking to build or replicate something similar, Kevin offers practical advice on building relationships before you need them, measuring outcomes beyond seat time, and using industry councils to keep employers engaged and informed.

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00:00 Introduction

01:51 Overview of the Bridges to Careers program

03:22 How often trainings run

06:03 How employers engage with the program

07:56 Job placement and student support

08:50 How the program is funded

10:27 Wraparound support for participants

11:23 Program growth and impact numbers

12:58 Who participates in the program

14:39 How the program is promoted and students are recruited

15:54 How Bridges to Careers fits alongside community college offerings

18:48 Kevin's background in education

21:20 Advice for communities who want to replicate this program

22:51 A success story

24:05 Fun closing question

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At Livability, we highlight the nation's most vibrant small and mid-sized cities as a trusted voice for communities across America. We help places attract talent and reach target companies through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

John Launius of One Southern Indiana discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of economic development in a region crossing two states, including new infrastructure-focused regional brand, The Fouridor. Learn how the region leverages a bi-state talent pool, attracts big win projects like a Meta data center and keeps the momentum of their wins ongoing.

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Job training programs that are short, free and tailored to the needs of your employers could be key to maximizing your existing workforce. Tune in for a case study from Shannon Thiele, Ames Regional Economic Alliance, on the community's Story Country Retraining Program.

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

New Mexico recently unveiled free child care for all New Mexico families. We sat down with Kendal Chavez, Deputy Secretary, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, to hear how they're pulling off this game-changing initiative.

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

In a crowded digital landscape, it's more important than ever for chambers to establish themselves as a one-stop information shop. In this episode, learn how to move beyond event announcements and transform your chamber into a trusted source for the news, stories and insights your members are seeking.

• (5:03) Jeremy Henderson, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
• (10:52) Anna-Grace Galloway, Greenville Chamber of Commerce

Resources Mentioned:

• Business Trend Magazine
• "What's Happening at the Greenville Chamber This Week"

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) shares their Project Reconnect initiative helping adult students return to school through a human-centered, holistic approach. Hear how the program goes beyond tuition by covering previous debt balances and providing empathetic, personalized support for real-life barriers like transportation and childcare.

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Today communities are moving beyond traditional job boards to connect relocating talent with job opportunities. Hear how innovative programs in Northwest Arkansas, Champaign-Urbana and South Dakota use human-centered support to go the extra mile when it comes to talent attraction:

(02:13) Aron Shelton, Finding Northwest Arkansas

(10:00) Carly McCrory-McKay, Champaign-Urbana Community Job Application

(17:02) Alex Neuland, Dakota Roots Job Advisors

Resources Mentioned:

• TeamKC Career Network

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

In this episode, Estes Hughes, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, joins us to discuss FuelAL, the state's innovative program designed to retain college students after graduation. Customized programs offer students professional development, social opportunities and community service, plus expose them to diverse cities and industries across the state.

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Boomerangs can be a great talent attraction target – maybe you are one yourself! In this episode, we look at a couple community programs focused on bringing back boomerangs, and hear from some boomerangs themselves about their stories and what drew them back to the cities they're now based in:

(02:04): Josh, a business owner making a social impact in Colorado Springs, CO

(08:22): Lauren, a veterinarian who wanted to be closer to family in Chattanooga, TN

(12:35): Brian, a lawyer who burned out in big cities + started fresh in Greenville, NC

Resources Mentioned:

• Boomerang Greensboro
• Love, Kansas

At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.