Develop This: Economic and Community Development

What makes some communities stand out while others struggle to tell their story? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Sandy Dubay , CEO of PPR Strategies , about the growing importance of communication, branding, and storytelling in economic development. Drawing on her experience in both economic development and public relations, Sandy explains why authentic storytelling has...

What does it take to transform a community while ensuring everyone benefits from the growth? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Clyde Higgs , President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc , about one of the most ambitious community redevelopment projects in the United States. Clyde shares his unique journey from healthcare leadership into economic development and explains how l...

What role do public-private partnerships play in the future of economic development? In this panel episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise explores the evolving PPP landscape with Joachim Arnold , Matt Chambers , and Clint Nessmith , bringing together perspectives from the U.S. and Europe. The conversation dives into how economic development organizations are rethinking funding models, private sec...

What if the next wave of economic growth starts with local entrepreneurs? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Rob Williams of SourceLink to explore how entrepreneurship-led economic development can help communities build stronger, more resilient economies. Rob shares how communities—especially rural ones—can leverage their unique assets to support entrepreneurs, strengthen...

What does it take for rural communities to compete and grow in today's economy? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Jolene Schalper , EVP of the Great Falls Montana Development Alliance , to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping rural economic development. Jolene shares her journey from nonprofit leadership into economic development and explains how collaboration...

What happens when rapid tech growth collides with a city's cultural identity? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise is joined by Jon Roberts and Tracy McDaniel of TIP Strategies to explore the evolution of Austin's tech boom—and the social and economic trade-offs that come with it. Once known for its distinct culture and creative energy, Austin has become one of the fastest-growing tech...

What does it take to build thriving communities across an entire region? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise speaks with Barb Lamue to explore her unique journey from law enforcement to economic development—and the leadership lessons she's learned along the way. Drawing from decades of experience in regional collaboration and workforce strategy, Barb shares how trust, authenticity, an...

What does it take to rebuild an economy after a disaster—and turn it into a model for long-term growth? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Michael Hecht , CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. , to explore lessons learned from leading economic recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. Michael shares how New Orleans approached rebuilding not just infrastructure, but its...

In celebration of Small Business Week, this episode of Develop This! takes a closer look at the businesses that are often small in size but powerful in impact: microbusinesses.  Friend of the show, Erik Reader brings Marci Goodwin , co-founder of SmartStart to speak with Joi Cuartero Austin for a conversation about why communities should pay closer attention to solopreneurs, makers, freelancers, c...

What role do big, bold visions play in shaping stronger communities and more effective leaders? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise is joined by Mark Perna to explore how optimism, storytelling, and ambitious goals can inspire innovation, community engagement, and long-term growth. Drawing inspiration from the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, the conversation examines how major rallying points...

What does it take for a small country to compete for high-value global investment in today's economy? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Pilar Madrigal of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency to explore how Costa Rica is evolving into a strategic hub for advanced industries and foreign direct investment. From its geographic position connecting North and South Americ...

How did Lithuania transform itself into one of Europe's fastest-rising investment and innovation hubs? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise speaks with Rūta Kriščiūnaitė from Invest Lithuania to explore the country's remarkable economic evolution and growing global influence. From FinTech and global business services to defense and data centers, Lithuania has positioned itself as a comp...

What does it take to build economies that are truly inclusive—and built for long-term impact? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise speaks with Philip Gaskin to explore his diverse career spanning the private sector, entrepreneurship, and community development—and how those experiences shape his approach to economic transformation today. Philip shares how lessons from the private sector...

What are the new rules shaping where major industrial projects choose to land? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise speaks with Courtney Dunbar , Director of Site Selection at Burns & McDonnell , to unpack how technology, geopolitics, and infrastructure demands are reshaping modern site selection. Courtney breaks down how today's location decisions are being influenced far beyond tradi...

What makes a country stand out in the global race for investment? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise speaks with Fadi Shadeh of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency to explore why Hungary has become one of Central Europe's most dynamic investment destinations. From its strategic location at the heart of Europe to its deep integration into the EU single market, Hungary offers com...

What does it take for a legacy industrial city to reinvent itself into a modern growth hub? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise is joined by Trevor Sutton to explore Birmingham's ongoing economic transformation and the strategies shaping its future. From major wins like the Fannie Mae project to the continued rise of life sciences and metals industries, Birmingham is positioning itsel...

How much does what you wear actually shape how you're perceived—and how you perform? In this episode of Develop This !, Dennis Fraise is joined by Dan Trepanier , founder of Articles of Style , to explore his journey from a farm in Canada to becoming a leading voice in men's fashion and personal styling. Dan breaks down the fundamentals of building a professional wardrobe, emphasizing why fit, qua...

How is economic development evolving in a world shaped by rapid technological change? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Alejandra Y. Castillo to explore how regional strategies, emerging technologies, and workforce development are redefining the field. From AI to quantum computing, Alejandra breaks down how innovation is influencing where and how communities grow. She...

What's really driving global location decisions today? In this episode of Develop This! , Dennis Fraise sits down with Johan Beukema of BCI Global to unpack the shifting landscape of site selection and investment strategy. From AI and data centers to supply chain resilience, Johan explains how companies are rethinking where they invest—and why. As decentralization accelerates, talent and strong ec...

What separates good economic development organizations from great ones? According to Barry Broome , it comes down to leadership, data, and the courage to adapt. In this episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Barry Broome , President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and recipient of the 2025 Chairwoman's Award from the International Economic Development Counc...

In this inspiring episode of Develop This! , host Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark C. Perna to explore the power of bold thinking, visionary leadership, and rallying people around big ideas. Drawing on their shared fascination with the Apollo program, they unpack how the audacity of aiming for the moon transformed not just science—but an entire generation's mindset. From the iconic leadership beh...

Vacant buildings are often treated as the problem—but what if they're just the symptom? In this episode of Develop This! , contributing correspondent Joi Cuartero Austin sits down with economic development expert Eric Reader to unpack the deeper forces behind community vacancy challenges. From market realities and ownership dynamics to infrastructure and policy barriers, Eric shares why quick fixe...

In this episode of Develop This! , we go global with Patsy Van Hove of IBM Consulting and Plant Location International to unpack the evolving world of site selection and economic development. From shifting workforce dynamics to the growing importance of international collaboration, Patsy shares why talent—not geography—is now the driving force behind location decisions. You'll hear how communities...

What happens when competing communities decide to collaborate instead? In this episode, Dennis Fraise sits down with Kevin Considine , Board Chair of the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership and CEO of Lake County Partners , and shares how a coalition of counties around Chicago is redefining economic development through regional alignment. Kevin unpacks the origins and evolution of the Greater...

Episode Summary Clark County, long known as the global epicenter of tourism and gaming, is rewriting its economic story. In this episode, Dennis Fraise sits down with Shani Coleman , Director of Community and Economic Development, and she shares how Southern Nevada is transforming into a diversified, innovation-driven economy. From attracting new industries to leveraging the explosive growth of pr...