Economic Development Podcasts

Today's economy challenges economic developers to reevaluate their strategies. This podcast series features experts discussing how they've adapted existing strategies or created new approaches to economic development. These interviews will increase your understanding of the issues and offer solutions to the problems.

Podcasts are free to use but are subject to our legal notices.

Revitalizing Urban Industrial Sectors: A Roadmap for Diversifying the Economic Base
July 14, 2010
Creating a broad range of high-quality jobs in the urban core is a daunting economic development challenge, that is only exacerbated by the current economic climate. Using Atlanta as an example, Dr. Nancey Green Leigh, professor of city and regional planning at the Georgia Institute of Technology, discusses a roadmap for protecting and energizing an industrial sector as a viable source of job growth and economic investment.
Play (MP3 10:27)Transcript

Sweet Charity: Foundations as a Source for Community and Economic Development
March 11, 2010
The overlap between economic development and philanthropy is growing. While we most often think of foundations as being involved in community development, they play increasingly more important roles in economic development. Douglas W. Nelson, retired president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, talks about how foundations can support economic development as sources of flexible capital and data-driven policy advocacy.
Play (MP3 15:17)Transcript

Banking on Economic Development: Financial Institutions and Economic Development—A Changing Paradigm
February 24, 2010
The importance of financial institutions in economic development efforts has varied by region. As communities struggle with funding economic development efforts, some are re-engaging banks in new ways. Indeed, the financial crisis has re-framed the banking sector's models of economic development deals. Bill Best, senior vice president for Community Development at PNC Bank and chair for the International Economic Development Council, discusses the key role banks play in community and economic development efforts during a time of recovery.
Play (MP3 8:39)Transcript

Resources Matter: Protecting the Environment While Growing the Local Economy
February 10, 2010
Economic growth and the preservation of natural resources are increasingly interdependent. Chris Clark, commissioner of Georgia's Department of Natural Resources, discusses the very real and important connections among economic development, community development, and the sustainable use of natural resources, an interdependence that leads to productive industries and thriving communities.
Play (MP3 14:31)Transcript

A Brand New World: Why Sustainability Matters in Modern Economic Development
January 27, 2010
Increasingly, communities are approaching economic development efforts within a sustainability context. Federal funding support has also shifted toward projects and programs that emphasize sustainability concepts. Edward Blakely, professor of Urban Policy at the University of Sydney, Australia, discusses how the economic crisis has transformed how we think about economic development finance and how communities can craft their economic destinies within the global economy.
Play (MP3 9:02)Transcript

Closing the Deal: Effective Incentives during Fiscal Challenges
January 13, 2010
The financial climate has limited the availability and effectiveness of traditional economic development tools. States and counties are challenged to identify innovative strategies to promote economic growth and employment. Reagan Farr, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Revenue, discusses how Tennessee has adapted its incentive policies to attract investment and grow jobs in the midst of the nation's worst recession in decades.
Play (MP3 8:35)Transcript