In this episode, Dane talks with Deb Barnett, the executive director of SI Now. SI Now is a relatively new regional economic development organization founded in the fall of 2022, serving 17 counties in Southern Illinois. She explains that the organization was created to address the need for a more strategic and collaborative approach to economic development in the region, moving away from the previous model where communities and counties worked in isolation. During the conversation, Barnett highlights SI Now's focus on long-term economic growth and shares insights about their current projects and future plans. She also discusses her involvement in a podcast called "Small Town Big Business," which features interviews with small business owners in Southern Illinois. Barnett emphasizes the importance of storytelling in economic development and expresses optimism about the increasing number of opportunities and projects in the pipeline for the region. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Deb Barnett. Sponsored By: Launch Your EDO Podcast with the Econ Dev Show: Ready to take your economic development efforts to the next level? The Econ Dev Show has partnered with destination marketing expert Adam Stoker to help you launch a successful podcast for your EDO. Our tailored service provides the expertise, tools, and support you need to create compelling content that attracts businesses and investors to your community. Don't let the challenges of starting a podcast hold you back. Your community has a story to tell – let's amplify it together!Sitehunt: Sitehunt is an AI-enhanced platform that helps economic developers build a comprehensive property database, enabling informed decisions and efficient RFI responses to accelerate site selection and project success.Links: Official website of SI NowSI Now's NOW! magazineIEDC Excellence Award for regional partnershipsIEDC Excellence Award for NOW! magazineSI Now's LinkedIn pageSI Now's Twitter page