Inside America's Best Cities, An Economic Development Podcast

When the retail marketplace Painted Tree abruptly declared bankruptcy, 311 small businesses in Franklin, Tennessee were shut down and told to clear out their inventory, with no notice.  In the blink of an eye, they lost their point-of-sale system, their storefront, and their customer lists. In this episode, Jena Potter shares how her team at Williamson, INC. stepped in and pulled together a two-da...

What does it take to transform a former Superfund site into a thriving community asset? In Charleston, the answer involved decades of remediation, an innovative flood resilience solution, and a developer willing to play the long game. In this episode, Clark Davis shares how his team took a former EPA Superfund site from contaminated to livable, engineered a solution to remove the property from the...

When you have less than 4% of land left, you stop thinking about what to build and start thinking about what to fix. That's exactly what Sugar Land, Texas did with their brand new Office Readiness Program. In this episode, Jennifer Alexander, Business Development Manager for the City of Sugar Land, shares the details on a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region that offers up to 50% reimburseme...

When jobs, population, and opportunity surge, so do affordability pressures, housing shortages, and the risk of losing the very character that made your community attractive in the first place. In this episode, Stephanie Coleman, President & CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce , shares how one of the country's fastest-growing regions is approaching that balance with 35 years of intention...

Place marketing isn't just marketing anymore. It's recruiting, community building, and storytelling all at once.  In this episode, destination storytelling expert Kristin Luna shares what's working in place marketing right now: why print still has a role, how AI is reshaping the way communities need to think about their online presence, and how public art can be one of the most accessible and cost...

For many communities, the outdoor economy is still treated as a soft amenity rather than a serious economic lever, even though it generates over $650 billion in economic impact each year.  In this episode, Ross Berlin, Senior Consultant at Fourth Economy , makes the case for why that needs to change. We dig into how outdoor assets connect directly to talent attraction in the modern economic develo...

Short-term workforce training is only as strong as what happens after graduation.  In this episode, Kevin Golumbeck, Director of CareerEdge at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce , shares how the Bridges to Careers program has built an employer engagement model that looks different depending on the industry - from closed-door job fairs at the Chamber to contractors visiting classrooms directl...

John Launius of One Southern Indiana discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of economic development in a region crossing two states, including new infrastructure-focused regional brand, The Fouridor . Learn how the region leverages a bi-state talent pool, attracts big win projects like a Meta data center and keeps the momentum of their wins ongoing.   At Livability, we highlight the uns...

Job training programs that are short, free and tailored to the needs of your employers could be key to maximizing your existing workforce. Tune in for a case study from Shannon Thiele, Ames Regional Economic Alliance , on the community's Story Country Retraining Program.    At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with com...

New Mexico recently unveiled free child care for all New Mexico families. We sat down with Kendal Chavez, Deputy Secretary, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, to hear how they're pulling off this game-changing initiative.   At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their targ...

In a crowded digital landscape, it's more important than ever for chambers to establish themselves as a one-stop information shop. In this episode, learn how to move beyond event announcements and transform your chamber into a trusted source for the news, stories and insights your members are seeking. (5:03) Jeremy Henderson, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce (10:52) Anna-Grace Galloway, Greenville...

The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) shares their Project Reconnect initiative helping adult students return to school through a human-centered, holistic approach. Hear how the program goes beyond tuition by covering previous debt balances and providing empathetic, personalized support for real-life barriers like transportation and childcare.    At Livability, we highlight the u...

Today communities are moving beyond traditional job boards to connect relocating talent with job opportunities. Hear how innovative programs in Northwest Arkansas, Champaign-Urbana and South Dakota use human-centered support to go the extra mile when it comes to talent attraction: (02:13) Aron Shelton, Finding Northwest Arkansas (10:00) Carly McCrory-McKay, Champaign-Urbana Community Job Applicati...

In this episode, Estes Hughes, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, joins us to discuss FuelAL , the state's innovative program designed to retain college students after graduation. Customized programs offer students professional development, social opportunities and community service, plus expose them to diverse cities and industries across the state.     At Livability, we highlight the u...

Boomerangs can be a great talent attraction target – maybe you are one yourself! In this episode, we look at a couple community programs focused on bringing back boomerangs, and hear from some boomerangs themselves about their stories and what drew them back to the cities they're now based in:  (02:04): Josh, a business owner making a social impact in Colorado Springs, CO (08:22): Lauren, a veteri...

Downtowns are a huge part of a city's identity, but the fast-growing Austin suburb of Cedar Park didn't have one. Enter the new downtown Bell District and its anchor, the Cedar Park Public Library. In this episode, hear from Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin about the vibrant, walkable heartbeat of Cedar Park, the importance of having a downtown and how to create one from the ground up.   At Livability, we...

Welcome to a new season! And welcome to a new format for some of our episodes, where you get to hear from multiple experts on a topic, tied together by host and Livability Editor in Chief Amanda Ellis. In this episode, we're sharing how you can retain students and recent grads in your community, including: 4:45 - Partnerships & Intern Grand Forks 7:35 - Industry-Specific Funding Support  8:15 - Re...

Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, shares how Michigan is strategically addressing population and workforce challenges through a multifaceted approach. From leaning into who you are as a community to drawing on marketing tactics from other industries, get insights on what works to make your place home to more talent. Resources mentioned: You Can in...

Fort Worth Film Commissioner Taylor Hardy shares about Fort Worth's strategic embrace of film and television. Through workforce development, financial incentives, and industry partnerships, the community has generated over $700 million in economic impact since 2015 and supported more than 30,000 jobs.     At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the c...

In this episode, we talk with Jennifer Wakefield, Greater Richmond Partnership , about the power of perception research in economic development. Discover how Richmond, Virginia, uses annual surveys of site selectors and corporate decision makers to put their best foot forward in site selection.   At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. W...

Delve into what's behind recent economic development wins in Arkansas with Hugh McDonald, Secretary of Commerce with the State of Arkansas. We chat with Hugh about the state's competitive advantages and how it's attracting investment, supporting its communities and positioning itself for continued growth. Resources Mentioned: Be Pro Be Proud Launch Arkansas Work Here. Live Here.   At Livability, w...

Discover how South Dakota is attracting new residents and tackling workforce needs with its innovative Dakota Roots program . We talk with Program Manager Alex Neuland about how Dakota Roots job advisors provide personalized support for relocators, from exploring job opportunities to navigating the move itself.    At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities acr...

In this conversation with Matt Tackett, President of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) , we delve into the South as a premier investment location. Tune in to learn about SEDC's global reach, commitment to innovation and how it fosters collaboration among 17 member states.    At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also...

Green jobs are booming in the U.S., and in North Port St. Joe, leaders are leveraging workforce training in green jobs to revitalize the local economy. This free 6-week brownfield training program helps residents gain green-collar skills to meet growing demand in the environmental sector.   Resources Mentioned: Becoming a Clean Slate Community   At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness o...

In this episode, we meet Philadelphia's night mayor and delve into the importance of a city's nighttime economy – it's not just about the fun, but the economic impact.    At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content and print magaz...