I had the chance to sit down with Bert Feuss, a longtime leader in mission-driven capital deployment, to unpack what capital access actually means for regional manufacturing communities. Bert helped us understand how philanthropic dollars can go far beyond traditional grants. We explored how the other 95% of these funds (what Bert calls the “corpus”) can be aligned with community impact, including financing manufacturing-related efforts like workforce development, sustainable production, or even employee ownership transitions.

What stood out to me was how real the opportunity is right now to connect regional manufacturing ecosystems with the world of impact investing. Bert talked about the need for place-based investment strategies that aren't just about writing checks, but about building relationships, de-risking innovation, and convening stakeholders across sectors. If you're a regional leader looking to strengthen your manufacturing base, this episode will give you a new lens on the role that philanthropic capital can play in fueling sustainable, long-term economic growth.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike.

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

🔗Links to Learn More:

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• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.

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