Episodes
Marcus Randolph, President & CEO of Invest Newark, explains how this EDO uses the Newark Land Bank to revitalize properties, making homeownership accessible and affordable for more residents. We also chat about other considerations for community leaders who want to boost the rate of home ownership, and why it’s important work.  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...
Published 04/30/24
Sandy Dubay, President & CEO of PPR Strategies, delves into streamlining your economic development marketing strategy with tips from her 20+ years of experience in this niche. We chat about DIY approaches vs. engaging outside support, how to lighten your marketing load by collaborating with others in your community and much more.  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...
Published 04/16/24
Each season, we hear from a community who recently won a significant project. On this Pick Me! Episode, Jeff Rea, President & CEO of Indiana’s South Bend Regional Chamber, joins us to talk about landing GM & Samsung SDI’s $3.5 billion investment in an EV battery cell plant in St. Joseph County. 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...
Published 04/02/24
In this episode, Chelsey Roney, co-founder of Proxi, joins us for a chat about using customizable maps to elevate your place marketing   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 magazine programs. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and...
Published 03/19/24
In the second installment of our two-part child care series, Garrett Dolan, Associate Director of Human Resources at Tyson Foods, talks about Tyson’s onsite child care facility at the company’s Humboldt, TN plant, including plenty of takeaways for businesses and economic developers.  Resources Mentioned: Clarksville-Montgomery County IDB’s Industrial Park Model At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with...
Published 03/05/24
Maureen McGuinness, President & CEO of the Triangle East Chamber, chats with us about the NC Early Education Coalition and how they’re meeting child care challenges in North Carolina.  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 magazine programs. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new...
Published 02/20/24
In this episode, Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards, shares the ins and outs of one of the largest ever mixed use development projects and how it will reshape downtown Atlanta. 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 magazine programs. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new...
Published 02/06/24
In the final episode of this season, we hear from Tyler Rossmaessler, Executive Director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, about the Talent Tours Program bringing job seekers directly to employers in Flint, MI  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 magazine programs. Be sure to subscribe so...
Published 11/28/23
Alex Beck, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation,  joins us to share about Brattleboro's Welcoming Workplaces Initiative supporting local employers in welcoming all kinds of employees, particularly immigrants and refugees new to the U.S. Tune in to hear about increasing diversity in a small community and making an impact for both new Americans and locals.  Resources Mentioned: What the Best Places to Live Will Look Like in the Future At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness...
Published 11/14/23
In this episode, we hear from Stephane Frijia, President & CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, about creating more housing to meet the needs of locals at all income levels and life stages.  Resources Mentioned: Addressing Workforce Housing Needs in Northeast Indiana 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...
Published 10/31/23
Plural founder & CEO Damola Ogundipe joins us to chat about the unique power of chambers to influence and shape legislative priorities.  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 magazine programs. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com...
Published 10/17/23
The Ames Chamber wants to showcase what makes Ames an A+ community. Learn how they're meeting their goals by partnering with Livability to tell talent everywhere about one of America's best mid-sized cities. We also cover other successful talent and workforce efforts happening in Ames.  Resources Mentioned: Ames Magazine  What Best Places to Live Will Look Like in the Future, with Chris Fair  Upskilling in Ames, with Nikki Fischer  The Story of Jack Trice At Livability, we highlight...
Published 10/03/23
Each season, we hear from a community who recently won a significant project, and how they did it. On this Pick Me! Episode, Kenny McDonald, President & CEO, Columbus Partnership, joins us to talk about landing the biggest investment in Ohio state history: Intel’s $20 billion project in Licking County. 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...
Published 09/19/23
DCI’s Patience Fairbrother joins us with insights for your talent strategies and the high points of DCI’s annual Talent Wars job and location research, including implications for small and mid-sized cities and local upskilling programs.  Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Resources Mentioned: Relocation Research from Livability Talent Recruitment vs Upskilling: What’s the best strategy? Wonderfl.com At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of...
Published 09/05/23
Brooke Randels of Campus Tulsa joins us on this episode with insight on retaining college students in your community. She also shares about the knowledge you can glean from the upcoming Young, Smart & Local talent conference in New Orleans and chats about the future of higher education, plus what Gen Z is getting right. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. You can also subscribe to our talent attraction newsletter.  At Livability, we highlight the unsung...
Published 08/22/23
In this episode, Chris Fair, futurist as well as founder and CEO of Resonance, discusses what will make the cities of the future good places to live and what to be thinking about now to be a talent magnet in the coming decades.  Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Resources Mentioned: Why a Prosperous City is Both Livable and Lovable Resonance’s 2023 America’s Best Cities Livability’s 2023 Top 100 Best Places to Live At Livability, we highlight the...
Published 08/08/23
Kaleigh Cox, of DxTEL and Fiber Homes, joins us for our first episode of Season 3 on how fiber internet can help you meet your talent and business attraction goals. She also talks about resources for bringing fiber to your area and tapping your local real estate agents to support your strategy.  Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Resources Mentioned: Livability & Fiber Homes’ Connected Communities Certification Connected Community Mount Horeb and...
Published 07/25/23
In this special bonus episode, Mike Christenson of Applied Geographic Solutions shares how the right data can have a big impact on your efforts to draw talent and businesses, and how the barriers to getting good data are not as high as you might think.  This is the last episode of our second season, but we’ll be back soon with Season 3. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release our next episode. Resources Mentioned: Blog Post mentioned at 7:30 about 2020 Census data At...
Published 06/06/23
Each season, we’ll hear from a community who recently won a significant project, and how they did it. On this Pick Me! Episode, Chassen Haynes, Senior Director of Business Development for the State of Tennessee, joins us to talk about landing the biggest investment in Tennessee history: Ford’s $5.6 billion BlueOval project creating BlueOval City.
Published 05/23/23
In this episode, we sit down with Adam Knapp, President & CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to talk about Baton Rouge’s comprehensive talent strategies, and how this community is upskilling high schoolers, college students and adults. Not only are they matching the right people to the right jobs, they’re also closing opportunity gaps and promoting their area along the way.
Published 05/09/23
In this episode, Nathan Ohle, President & CEO, International Economic Development Council, looks back on his first year leading our industry’s premier professional association. He also talks about the future of IEDC and the profession, especially recruiting students to our industry, IEDC’s Economic Recovery Corps and much more.
Published 04/25/23
Places with a large nearby military presence know that can really shape the fabric of your community. But are you maximizing that impact when it comes to your talent strategies? And how do you keep transitioning military folks in your region? In this episode, April Bragg of the Robins Regional Chamber in Warner Robins, Georgia, talks about engaging with nearby Robins Air Force Base and how these relationships make Warner Robins a special place.
Published 04/11/23
Have you been charged with marketing your community? Get place marketing insights from Development Counsellors International. In this episode, you’ll learn about where to start and who to partner with in your community, plus more to help you go from launching a place marketing strategy to an established place brand that appeals to talent, business and visitors alike.
Published 03/28/23
Looking to boost your community’s pool of workers in fields like health care, tech or manufacturing? You’re in the right place – our two-part series on upskilling. In our second installment, the Ames Chamber joins us with expert insight on how to design workforce programs, with case studies on their See Yourself in Ames intern retention initiative and the Story County Retraining Program upskilling locals.
Published 03/13/23