Develop This: Economic and Community Development

In this inspiring episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Alejandra Y. Castillo to explore her remarkable journey from helping her family run a Bronx bodega to leading economic development efforts at the highest levels of the federal government. Alejandra shares how her immigrant experience, early responsibilities, and global perspective shaped her leadership philosophy and commitm...

Episode Summary In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Ken Biberaj , Executive Managing Director at Savills and host of Coffee With Ken , to explore how national defense policy, artificial intelligence, and real estate strategy are converging to reshape economic development across the United States. Ken shares insights from the front lines of site selection and federa...

What does it take to transform a fast-growing community into a regional economic powerhouse? In this episode of  Develop This! , Dennis sits down with Jennifer Storm, Chief Executive Officer of the Buda Economic Development Corporation and the IEDC 2025 Economic Developer of the Year, to unpack her remarkable journey from community volunteer to a driving force behind the growth of Buda,TX. Jennife...

The space economy is no longer a distant frontier—it's a powerful engine of economic growth, innovation, and talent development right here on Earth. In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis sits down with Edgar Campa-Palafox   Vice President, Business Development, Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast , a community coalition, is the official economic development organization fo...

In this episode of Develop This! , Joi Cuartero Austin sits down with Eric Reader to explore one of the most overlooked—but most impactful—strategies in economic development: business retention . While recruitment often grabs headlines, Eric makes the case that real, sustainable community growth happens by supporting the businesses you already have . Through proactive relationship-building, early...

In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Amber Banks , President and CEO of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs , to explore the transformative role of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in advancing equitable economic development. Amber shares how black-led CDFIs are uniquely positioned to build trust, expand capital access, and drive meaningful imp...

In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark Perna to explore "Rally Your Region," a powerful new initiative developed in partnership with the International Economic Development Council. Designed to help communities break through silos, build consensus, and take real action, Rally Your Region provides a structured, customizable framework to align stakeholders around a share...

Episode Summary In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise is joined by Katie Davenport and Rick Kiernan from Convergent Nonprofit Solutions to explore how Promise programs are reshaping workforce development and community growth. From nationally recognized models like the Kalamazoo Promise to emerging initiatives like the Greenwood Promise , these programs are creating long-term talent pipe...

Across America, thousands of business owners are quietly approaching retirement — and many have no succession plan in place. For communities, that represents a major economic risk: lost jobs, closed storefronts, and the potential loss of locally rooted businesses. In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark Piekos , Executive Director of the McHenry County Economic De...

People First: Rethinking Economic Development with Maggie Strong Economic development has long focused on transactions—deals, incentives, and projects . But the communities thriving today are doing something different: they're putting people at the center of the strategy . In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Maggie Strong , founder of Strong Consulting...

The grant landscape is shifting quickly — and economic developers need to be ready. In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Adrian Spencer , founder of Grant Guru , to explore what's ahead for grants, funding, and economic development in 2026 . Federal policy changes are reshaping funding opportunities, including a shift away from centralized systems like Grants.gov toward...

Ethics is the invisible foundation of successful economic development. In this episode of Develop This! , we explore why professional integrity is essential to building trust, guiding difficult decisions, and sustaining long-term community growth. Dennis Fraise interviews Jim Fram , a longtime educator and leader in economic development ethics, about how ethical standards have evolved in the profe...

In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Brian Abernathy and Clint Nessmith to discuss the strategic merger of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions and Resource Development Group . 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...

The largest economic development project in North Carolina history is taking flight. In this episode of Develop This! , guests Marvin Price and Abbie Jordan Currens 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 manufactu...

In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with "America's factory whisperer," Didi Caldwell , President & CEO of Global Location Strategies , for a candid and strategic conversation about the realities of site selection in today's turbulent environment. Site Selectors Guild With more than two decades guiding large manufacturing and heavy industrial projects, Didi shares insider ins...

In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Ron Kresha , Chief Financial Officer and founding member of Golden Shovel Agency , 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 no...

In this forward-looking episode of Develop This!, Dennis sits down with acclaimed speaker, author, and CEO Mark C. Perna 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 star...

Show Notes In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise welcomes Andrew Ratchford , Vice President at Site Selection Group , 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 Site Selectors Guild , Develop This! continues its mission of connecting e...

Show Notes In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Paul Cranch 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...

In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise sits down with rural innovation expert Becky McCray , co-founder of SaveYour. Town and author of the bestselling books The Idea Friendly Guide and Small Town Rules . 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 servin...

In 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 service...

In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Samantha Jefferson , Managing Director of the Site Selectors Guild . This episode continues the relationship between the Develop This! Podcast and the Site Selectors Guild , offering listeners direct insight into how site selectors think, lead, and shape economic development outcomes. Samantha shares her unique career journey and...

In this special Develop This! Crystal Ball Series episode, host Dennis Fraise welcomes speaker and author Will Baggett for a wide-ranging conversation about what the future holds for leadership, communities, and economic development in 2026 . Dennis and Will explore how AI , shifting cultural values, and new economic forces are reshaping communities. They discuss why human connection may become a...

Housing has become one of the most urgent—and complex—challenges facing economic developers today. In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Michael Mohrfeld , Owner and President of Mohrfeld Electric , Green Oak Development , Mohrfeld Solar , and a housing developer. Speaking candidly from a developer's perspective , Michael shares what it really takes to make housing p...

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Develop This! Podcast , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Aaron Brossoit , Partner & CEO, and Bethany Quinn , President of Golden Shovel Agency, as part of the Develop This! 2026 Crystal Ball Series . Together, they explore how the economic development landscape is rapidly evolving—and what professionals must do now to prepare for 2026 and beyond. The conver...