DT #614 Raising the Bar on Site Readiness: Standards, Speed, and Site Selection
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Release Date: 02/11/2026
DT #623 Proof, Not Potential: What Site Selectors Really Look For
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, sits down with “America’s factory whisperer,” , President & CEO of , for a candid and strategic conversation about the realities of site selection in today’s turbulent environment. With more than two decades guiding large manufacturing and heavy industrial projects, Didi shares insider insight into how companies actually make location decisions — and where communities often fall short. From compressed project timelines to the reshoring debate, from data centers reshaping energy markets to the growing importance of investment-ready sites, this...
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DT #625 JetZero Lands in Greensboro: North Carolina’s Largest Economic Development Win
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
The largest economic development project in North Carolina history is taking flight. In this episode of Develop This!, guests and take listeners behind the scenes of JetZero’s monumental decision to build a $4.7 billion advanced manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina — a project expected to create more than 14,500 jobs. JetZero’s aerospace manufacturing campus isn’t just another announcement. It represents a transformational moment for Greensboro, the Piedmont Triad region, and the entire state. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why JetZero selected Greensboro and the...
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DT #626 Stronger Together: The Strategic Merger Reshaping Economic Development Fundraising
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with and to discuss the strategic merger of and This isn’t a consolidation story — it’s a growth strategy. Brian shares how Convergent Nonprofit Solutions was founded during the 2008 financial crisis to bring greater efficiency and innovation to nonprofit fundraising. Clint reflects on Resource Development Group’s roots dating back to 1995, focusing exclusively on economic development fundraising and campaign strategy. Together, they unpack: Why today’s economic development organizations require increasingly...
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DT #622 Purpose, Control & Courage: Why the Next Generation Is Choosing Entrepreneurship Mark C. Perna
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this forward-looking episode of Develop This!, sits down with acclaimed speaker, author, and CEO to unpack one of the most important shifts facing economic and community development professionals today: the rise of the entrepreneurial generation. With 84% of Gen Z expressing interest in entrepreneurship, communities must rethink how they build talent pipelines, support startups, and cultivate opportunity. Mark shares insights from his 27+ years of building impactful businesses and explains why today’s youth view risk, safety, and control differently than previous generations. For them,...
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DT #624 Beyond the Terminal: Reframing Community Airports as Economic Engines
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with , Chief Financial Officer and founding member of , to explore the powerful — and often overlooked — role of community airports in economic development. Drawing from his professional expertise and personal passion for aviation, Ron makes a compelling case for why community airports must be viewed not as line-item expenses, but as anchor institutions that drive investment, healthcare access, business recruitment, and long-term growth. From general aviation to essential air service, airport marketing to emerging aviation technology, this...
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DT #620 The Power of Place: What U.S. Communities Can Learn from Australia’s Country University Centers
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Show Notes In this episode of Develop This!, sits down with from Brisbane to explore one of the most innovative and community-driven education and workforce models in the world: Country University Centers (CUCs). Designed to expand access to tertiary education in regional and rural Australia, CUCs are community-led, community-run facilities that allow students to pursue university degrees without leaving their hometowns. The result? Stronger local economies, reduced brain drain, and a new generation of homegrown talent fueling regional prosperity. Paul shares how this model emerged, why it...
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DT #621 Beyond the RFP: How Communities Win in Today’s Site Selection Landscape
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Show Notes In this episode of Develop This!, welcomes , Vice President at , for a wide-ranging conversation on how the role of economic developers is rapidly expanding—and what that means for communities trying to compete for investment and jobs. As a proud partner of the , Develop This! continues its mission of connecting economic developers with the site selection profession. This episode reflects that shared commitment: helping communities better understand how projects are evaluated and what it truly takes to deliver results. Andrew explains how the pandemic accelerated a shift away...
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DT #614 Raising the Bar on Site Readiness: Standards, Speed, and Site Selection
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with , Project Principal at , to unpack one of the most critical challenges facing communities today: . With more than 30 years of global consulting experience and nearly 400 site selection engagements across manufacturing, headquarters, R&D, technology, and shared services, Phil brings a site selector’s unfiltered perspective on how the site selection landscape has fundamentally changed—and why many communities are struggling to keep up. The conversation explores how manufacturing site selection projects now move at hyper speed, why...
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DT #619 How to Make Any Community Idea Friendly with Becky McCray
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
In this episode of Develop This!, host sits down with rural innovation expert , co-founder of and author of the bestselling books and . Becky brings a rare perspective to economic development—she doesn’t just study rural communities, she lives in one (population: 30). From running a small-town liquor store to serving as a city administrator and nonprofit executive, Becky has spent her career helping rural places adapt, innovate, and thrive. Together, Dennis and Becky explore why traditional economic development models often fail rural communities—and what works instead. They discuss...
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DT #612 Building Where It’s Needed Most: A Developer’s Take on Workforce Housing
Develop This: Economic and Community Development
Housing has become one of the most urgent—and complex—challenges facing economic developers today. In this episode of , host sits down with , Owner and President of , , , and a housing developer. Speaking candidly from a developer’s perspective, Michael shares what it really takes to make housing projects work in small and mid-sized communities—and why so many well-intentioned plans never move from concept to construction. Drawing on his diverse portfolio across construction, real estate, energy, and community-focused development, Michael explains how housing challenges are deeply...
info_outlineIn this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Phil Schneider, Project Principal at Global Location Strategies (GLS), to unpack one of the most critical challenges facing communities today: site readiness.
With more than 30 years of global consulting experience and nearly 400 site selection engagements across manufacturing, headquarters, R&D, technology, and shared services, Phil brings a site selector’s unfiltered perspective on how the site selection landscape has fundamentally changed—and why many communities are struggling to keep up.
The conversation explores how manufacturing site selection projects now move at hyper speed, why risk aversion among companies has intensified, and how the shortage of truly competitive industrial sites is reshaping economic development strategy. Phil also dives into the persistent problem of inconsistent definitions of “ready sites” across states and programs—and how that inconsistency can derail projects before they even get started.
A major focus of the episode is the work of the Site Selectors Guild to establish national standards for site readiness. Phil explains how standardized criteria, data transparency, and data integrity can dramatically improve a community’s competitiveness—and save both site selectors and economic developers valuable time.
This episode is essential listening for any economic development professional looking to align their site readiness efforts with real-world site selection expectations.
Key Takeaways
- Site readiness is now a baseline requirement, not a competitive advantage.
- Site selection timelines have compressed dramatically, increasing pressure on communities.
- There is a national shortage of quality, build-ready industrial sites.
- Companies are increasingly risk-averse, demanding better data and fewer unknowns.
- Definitions of “ready sites” vary widely—and that inconsistency creates friction.
- Economic developers and site selectors don’t always evaluate readiness the same way.
- Data richness, accessibility, and transparency are essential to staying competitive.
- The Site Selectors Guild Ready Sites program helps identify gaps and raise standards.
- There are no perfect sites—but knowing your site’s limitations matters.
- National site readiness standards are becoming increasingly important, even globally.