Develop This: Economic and Community Development

Explore topics related to transformational community leadership including economic development, non-profit engagement, organizational management, and policy development. It's a candid conversation with veterans of the economic development profession along with inspiring interviews of today's thought leaders.

DT #557 Building Bridges: The St. Louis BRE Initiative 04/23/2025

DT #558 Unlocking Economic Development: The OUEDI Experience - Courtney Dunbar 04/23/2025

DT #555 Understanding Agriculture and Egg Prices in America - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig 04/16/2025

DT #556 The “Why” Behind Downtown Revitalization Strategies: Building Community from the Ground Up 04/16/2025

DT #556 The “Why” Behind Downtown Revitalization Strategies: Building Community from the Ground Up In this episode, sits down with , director of Illinois Main Street, to explore how communities are shaping effective downtown economic development strategies—and more importantly, why these strategies work in their specific context. From humble beginnings rooted in community engagement to long-term sustainability planning, this conversation unpacks the real-world process of revitalizing a downtown district with purpose, people, and partnerships. “You’ve got to bring people alongside—not just for buy-in, but for co-ownership.” 1. Think long-term: strategies should outlast leadership transitions 2. Build programs that allow public and private sectors to partner meaningfully 3. Listen deeply: alignment with people is as important as alignment with funding 4. Track the vibe: excitement, curiosity, and positivity are leading indicators of success Laying the Groundwork 1. The importance of starting with community development 2. Strategies to build momentum and foster ownership 3. Engaging leaders, stakeholders, and residents in authentic ways The Strategy in Action 1. What communities are doing to activate and sustain downtown revitalization 2. The critical role of funding, partnerships, and shared leadership 3. Empowering people through collaboration and participation Understanding the “Why” 1. Why certain strategies are successful in some places and not in others 2. How to align initiatives with local identity, values, and funding tools like TIF 3. The power of ego-free partnerships and sustainability planning Results & Reflections 1. Indicators that show a community is on the right path 2. Stories of energy, enthusiasm, and openness to change 3. Lessons learned from communities that are building trust and momentum /episode/index/show/developthis/id/36157475

DT #553 Explosive Growth in Pasco County, Florida: Opportunities and Challenges 04/09/2025

DT #554 Navigating the Complexities of Tariffs on the North American Auto Industry - Flavio Volpe 04/09/2025

DT #551 Unlocking the Power of Questions - Mark Perna 04/02/2025

DT #552 The National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA) 04/02/2025

DT #549 Understanding the Impact of Tariffs on the Can Manufacturing Industry 03/26/2025

DT #550 Preview of the 2025 IEDC Rural Retreat in Great Falls, Montana 03/26/2025

DT #547 Leadership Lessons from a Lifetime in Economic Development - Michael Langley 03/19/2025

DT #548 The Impact of increased U.S. Tariffs on International Trade and the U.S. economy - David Gantz 03/19/2025

DT #545 Empowering Rural America: The Golden Shovel Approach 03/12/2025

DT #546 Recap and Review of the 2025 IEDC Leadership Summit 03/12/2025

DT #544 The Tariff Debate: Understanding Its Impact - Ryan Monarch Assistant Professor, Economics Department Syracuse University 03/03/2025

DT #544 The Tariff Debate: Understanding Its Impact - Ryan Monarch Assistant Professor, Economics Department Syracuse University In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Assistant Professor, Economics Department , an expert in international trade and economics, to discuss the complexities of tariffs and their implications on the economy. The conversation covers the definition of tariffs, their historical context, their role in modern trade, and the economic and consumer impacts. Ryan explains how tariffs can affect supply chains, consumer choices, and the overall market dynamics while also addressing the political motivations behind tariff implementation. The discussion highlights the challenges and uncertainties businesses face in a fluctuating tariff environment and the long-term effects of such policies on the economy. Takeaways A tariff is an increase in the price of imported goods. Tariffs have been a source of government revenue since the founding of the US. President McKinley was known for his pro-tariff stance. Tariffs are used to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. The scale of tariffs under President Trump is unprecedented in modern history. Higher tariffs can lead to increased prices for consumers. Tariffs can disrupt established supply chains and consumer choices. The burden of tariffs often falls on US importers, not foreign producers. Economists generally believe that tariffs create more losers than winners. The long-term effects of tariffs on the economy can take years to understand fully. | Cleveland, Ohio | June 9–13, 2025 LEAP into innovative economic strategies on an in-person learning trip! will select teams, each consisting of 2-4 economic and community leaders from cities with populations between 50,000 and 500,000, to explore Community Wealth Building and Inclusive Capital in Cleveland, OH. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to create their own action plan to bring back to their city. Selected participants will have all travel expenses covered for this immersive learning experience. NGIN will also handle all trip logistics. Ryan Monarch researches buyer-supplier relationships in international trade and how the recent tariff war affected U.S. exports and supply chains. He served as a Principal Economist for the International Finance division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2014-2021. His work has been published in the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of International Economics and other publications. His research has been cited by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Economist and Reuters, among others. He received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan in 2014. /episode/index/show/developthis/id/35514320

DT #542 Building Your Dreams: A Lifelong Journey - Mark Perna 02/26/2025

DT #543 Leadership Simplified: Enhancing Economic Development Organizations - Doug Van Dyke 02/26/2025

DT #540 These Free Programs are Changing How Cities Learn | Apply Now! 02/19/2025

DT #541 Dealing with the closure of a major employer – Bill Murphy 02/19/2025

DT #538 Mastering Site Preparation for Economic Development - Courtney Dunbar 02/12/2025

DT #539 Innovating Economic Development in Small Cities - Betsey Suchanic from the New Growth Innovation Network 02/12/2025

DT # 537 The Case For Liberal Arts In Economic Development - Dennis Pruitt 02/06/2025

DT #536 Leadership and Giving Back to the Economic Development Profession - Barry Matherly 01/29/2025

DT #536 Leadership and Giving Back to the Economic Development Profession - Barry Matherly joins Dennis, and they discuss the skills needed to be a great leader and how to become involved and give back to the economic development profession. Barry has worn a lot of hats in his economic development career. His current role is as the President and CEO of . Prior to joining Hickey Global, Barry was the President and CEO of the and the . You have led large organizations in very different communities. How were those positions and communities different? How were you able to adapt your skills to lead large teams and provide economic development leadership for the community? Along the way, you were also the Chair of IEDC and the Dean of OUEDI. What made you want to get involved in IEDC? Talk about your journey at IEDC, culminating in becoming the board chair. Why was certification important to you? What advice do you have for IEDC members who want to get more involved? Talk about OUEDI, its impact, and the education it provides. Barry Matherly has helped communities prosper by creating opportunities for new investment and job growth for over 30 years. As a certified economic development professional and trusted international thought leader, he develops growth strategies to create vibrant, inclusive communities. Barry leads Hickey Global, a part of the Hickey Family of advisory companies, utilizing its immense capabilities across a global footprint. With offices throughout the world and a diverse team of economic development, site selection, research, and marketing staff, Hickey handles innovative and complex assignments. Mr. Matherly is a past chair of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest economic development association in the world, and the dean and an instructor at the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He is also an instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Basic Economic Development course. Over a long career managing economic development organizations, Barry has leadership experience at the city, county, regional and university levels. He also interned 3 years for the United States Department of Commerce and worked 6 years in management for a Fortune 500 company. Barry has a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech University. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and a recipient of the Robert B. Cassell Leadership Award. Barry Matherly was named one of the 40 Leaders Under 40 (2002) by the Charlotte Business Journal, recognized as a North Carolina Main Street Champion, designated as a Fellow Member and Honorary Life Member by IEDC and is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. He was also inducted into Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs Alumni Hall of Fame. /episode/index/show/developthis/id/35027675

DT #534 Behind the scenes of state level economic Development - Debi Durham, the Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). 01/22/2025

DT #534 Behind the scenes of state level economic Development - Debi Durham, the Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). , the Director of the and the joins Dennis to discuss the role of a state economic development director. Fifteen years ago, what was the state of economic development? Fast forward 15 years, and how has economic development changed? Through two main divisions – business development and community development the IEDA administers almost 50 state and federal programs to assist individuals, communities, and businesses. That is a lot of plates to spin at one time. How big is the IEDA team? As a state, does Iowa target specific sectors for projects? Every state has advantages and disadvantages. How do you work to sell the sizzle for Iowa? How competitive are projects between the states? At the local level, we are used to projects from the state, utility, or rail partners. How do projects flow to the IEDA? Let's talk about the changes in the economic development landscape for projects, starting with the rise of certified sites. Incentives are always a controversial topic. How have incentives changed during your tenure, and what are your views on incentives? What advice for frontline economic development professionals do you have when competing for projects or existing industry expansions? What do you wish every economic development professional knew about when responding to RFIs? Debi, look into your crystal ball. What do you think economic development will look like in 10 years? Debi Durham Debi Durham is a longtime economic and community development professional who serves as Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). Durham was named to the positions by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in January 2019. Durham was first appointed to lead IEDA in 2011, and during her eight-year tenure, has turned the agency into a successful public-private partnership, landed billion-dollar economic development projects for Iowa and worked tirelessly on expanding trade and investment opportunities for the state. She prides herself on building coalitions, supporting new ventures and strengthening the state's industries and communities. Prior to joining IEDA, Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. Her several accolades include being recognized as one of the "Most Influential Business Leaders" in the 2019 Des Moines Business Record Book of Lists and receiving the Technology Association of Iowa's "Legislative Advocacy Leader" award in 2017. Durham also was recognized by the Business Record as a "Woman of Influence" in 2016. Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing and Management from Missouri Southern State University. The Iowa Economic Development Authority's (IEDA) mission is to strengthen economic and community vitality by building partnerships and leveraging resources to make Iowa the choice for people and business. Through two main divisions – business development and community development – IEDA administers several state and federal programs to meet its goals of assisting individuals, communities and businesses. Expand Your Business (HQJ) Grow Your Community /episode/index/show/developthis/id/34923175

DT #535 The State of Workforce in 2025 - Mark Perna 01/22/2025

DT #533 Finding Your Path in Economic Development - Danielle Casey 01/15/2025

DT #533 Finding Your Path in Economic Development - Danielle Casey , President & CEO of the , joins Dennis and discusses finding your path in economic development. How do you find the right fit? How do you know when to move to the next position? Is working your way up in one organization preferable, or is there value in working for multiple organizations? Is there a tipping point when it makes more sense to stay with an organization? Are there red flags when looking at joining an organization? Are there some dos and don’ts people should be aware of when interviewing? Ms. Casey brings extensive and diverse experience in leadership, public administration, marketing, business development and retention, and strategic planning as the leader of AREA, a nonprofit organization working to create a prosperous and diverse economy for the four-county Albuquerque metro region. She joined the organization in October of 2020. Previously, she served as the Executive Vice President for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and oversaw the organization’s business development, marketing and communications, investor engagement, research, and strategic initiatives critical to advancing economic growth in Greater Sacramento. She oversaw the comprehensive launch and execution of a best-in-class national site selection consultant strategy and established first-ever memorandums of understanding with seven local commercial real estate brokerage offices, receiving a Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council in 2020 for a joint publication she spearheaded with CBRE. She established critical internal efficiencies with revisions to all organizational practices from database management to budget development and oversight. Even in the wake of COVID-19, the organization succeeded in meeting all its annual metrics and job creation goals and launching a regional business retention and expansion outreach program. From 2013 – 2018, Danielle served the well-known City of Scottsdale, Arizona as its Economic Development Director. Under her leadership, the department received six awards of excellence from the International Economic Development Council, status as an Accredited Economic Development Organization, the 2015 ‘Large Community Economic Development Organization of the Year’ award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development, and unanimous Council approval of a Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan – the first for the community in more than 15 years. During her tenure, the department was directly involved in projects accounting for more than $24 million in 5-year direct revenue impact to the city, $7 billion in 5-year total economic impact, 4,428 or more new jobs in the first 12 months of business operation alone and $160 million in new capital investment. Ms. Casey served in various executive roles at the City of Maricopa, Ariz. since 2005, lastly as the Assistant City Manager. Departments under her oversight included economic development, community and development services, capital improvement, public works and City-wide marketing and communications activities. She managed several noteworthy tasks in the establishment of the City’s economic development office, such as the creation of an Industrial Development Authority, the City’s first Redevelopment District and Area Plan, the establishment of a local economic development 501 (c) 3 (the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance), City-wide branding and Economic Development Strategic Plan. Prior to her time in Maricopa, she attained significant experience in the non-profit sector working in fundraising, marketing, and event and membership management at the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art in Phoenix, Arizona and at Save The Bay in Providence, Rhode Island. Ms. Casey received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and Master of Administration from Northern Arizona University. She is both a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) as well as a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). She is a member of the International Economic Development Council and serves on its Board of Directors Governance Committee. She also serves as an instructor at the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute and serves on its Board of Directors and as a Mentor. Danielle is a proud Past President of the Arizona Association for Economic Development, a statewide professional association with more than 480 public and private members, and an active board member with New Mexico IDEA. In May 2010, Ms. Casey was the honored recipient of the ‘Economic Developer of the Year – Small Community’ award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development and in January 2017 she was recognized as a national top ‘40 under 40 Rising Star’ in economic development by Development Counsellors International. In addition, she is co-founder of the Arizona Chapter of Women Leading Government which in its sixth year draws more than 400 participants. An Air Force brat, Ms. Casey has had the great privilege of living in Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, Utah, Rhode Island, Arizona and California throughout her life and is thrilled to now call Albuquerque home, along with her trusty English bulldog Sophie, heeler/cattle dog mix Persie, and her amazing and supportive husband Steve. /episode/index/show/developthis/id/34852750

DT #532 The Year Ahead in Economic Development With Bryan Daniels IEDC Board Chair 01/08/2025

DT #532 The Year Ahead in Economic Development With Bryan Daniels IEDC Board Chair , the President and CEO of the – Incoming Board chair, joins Dennis, and they discuss what is ahead for the economic development profession and IEDC in 2025. Bryan Daniels was born and raised in Greeneville, Tennessee, which is adjacent to Cherokee National Forest. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications & Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from East Tennessee State University. Bryan began his career with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Daniels left the State of Tennessee in 1997 and begun work as an Economic Development Planner for the firm of Barge Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon based in Nashville, Tennessee. During this time Bryan worked with several communities within East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. His clients were municipalities trying to develop their local economies and seeking state and federal support for their goals. From 2001 thru 2010, Bryan accepted the role of Executive Vice President under the Blount Partnership. He was directly responsible for the Economic Development offices and staff located in Maryville, Tennessee; Munich, Germany; and Yokohama, Japan. Bryan managed the operations of the community's four industrial parks, two science/technology parks, and the Economic Development Programs for Blount County, City of Maryville, and City of Alcoa, Tennessee. The Economic Development Board is one of the four partner agencies of the Blount Partnership. In 2010, Bryan was named President and CEO of the Blount Partnership. The Partnership is comprised of The Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Economic Development Board, the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority, and the Blount Chamber Foundation. The 24-person staff is responsible for all economic development activities within the jurisdictional boarders of Blount County and the cities of Alcoa, Maryville, Townsend, Rockford, Friendsville, and Louisville. During Bryan's tenure, Blount County has recruited over 75 new and expanding companies in the areas of research & development, corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and back-office support centers. The total capital investment of these companies has exceeded $4 billion dollars and created more than 12,000 direct new jobs with average wages above Tennessee's average. The Blount County local governments adopted the new tourism authority structure which was written by Bryan and former Senator Doug Overbey. The authority was unanimously adopted by the 107th Tennessee general assembly. Bryan has continued his professional education by graduating from the Economic Development Institute located at the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. Bryan is also a graduate from the US Chamber's Institute of Non-Profit Management and attained the designation of IOM. He has also attained the status of Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. The Blount Partnership is a five-star accredited Chamber of Commerce by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the only Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) by the International Economic Development Council in the state of Tennessee. Bryan is very active in the community and has held the following leadership roles: /episode/index/show/developthis/id/34674180

DT #530 IEDC Update and the Year Ahead with Nathan Ohle 01/01/2025

DT #531 IEDC 2025 Conference Previews with Nathan Ohle 01/01/2025

DT #529 Being Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable - Mark Perna 12/18/2024

Develop This: Economic and Community Development

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