16 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week
The stories Dane thinks you need to see. April 10, 2025 edition.
Welcome to this week's issue of What Economic Developers Need to Know This Week, where we explore the evolving dynamics of our economy.
This week we have 16 tools, stories, graphics, charts and videos that I think you'll find informative, useful, inspiring, and perhaps even humorous. Some are economic development related directly, and some only indirectly. 🤔
If you're wondering what to do with the info in this newsletter, send something to your board members. It will make you look good!
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1) This has been an incredibly difficult week to write this newsletter in advance. Every day I'd write something about the tariff situation, and the next day it would be outdated.
As of now China is at 125%, and most of the rest of the world is at 10% for 90 days.
My assumption is still that he's following Stephen Miran's advice from November 2024, "A User’s Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System" .Miran is currently (since March) the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.
The plan proposes a tiered tariff system where different countries would face different tax rates on their exports to America based on their behavior. Countries would be sorted into "buckets" based on criteria like whether they manipulate their currency, respect U.S. intellectual property, or support American security interests. Friendly nations that share burdens would receive lower tariffs, while countries deemed uncooperative would face higher rates, creating strong incentives for nations to align with U.S. interests to maintain access to the American consumer market.
Trump's recent actions precisely follow the report's strategy - he's implemented an extreme 125% tariff on China while setting a 10% baseline on other countries, then paused higher rates for 90 days to create negotiating leverage.
This approach directly applies the document's recommended "graduated scales" system where countries can earn better tariff treatment by meeting American demands on security cooperation, currency practices, and market access, while maintaining maximum pressure on China as the primary strategic competitor.
Whether this is a good plan, or not remains to be seen.
2) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 190 - Econ dev news from 57 economic development executives and organizations in 27 states.
3) Podcast 168: Reimagining Economic Transformation for Distressed Communities with Rohan Sandhu - Where workforce developers and economic developers finally realize they're in the same meeting.
4) 22 New Econ Dev Jobs This Week - 22 jobs in 15 states from $40,000 - $250,000+
5) 23 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week - The stories Dane thinks you need to see. April 3, 2025 edition.
From Dane: Not only do I publish the Econ Dev Show newsletter and podcast for free every week, but over the past year, I've also been developing a groundbreaking tool for economic development organizations: Sitehunt.
I've been told it's the first truly practical application of AI in economic development.
Your peers agree. In its first year alone, Sitehunt is already being used by EDOs of all sizes across the country.
Here's what it can do:
- Automatically research and enhance your existing buildings and site database--or even create one from scratch.
- Continuously discover new, suitable buildings and sites within your communities to grow your economic development inventory.
- Generate compelling marketing content for your sites.
- Instantly analyze RFIs and match them to your inventory, ensuring you never miss an opportunity from a site selector.
Can I give you a demo? I promise you'll be amazed at what Sitehunt can do.
6) Surging costs potentially complicate plans for new U.S. factories: New tariffs mean higher material and equipment costs for manufacturers seeking to expand
7) Why kids in Fukuoka are obsessed with collecting cards with middle-aged men on them. Why? Here's what the creator said: "We wanted to strengthen the connection between the children and the older generations in the community. There are so many amazing people here. I thought it was such a shame that no one knew about them," she said in an interview with Fuji News Network (FNN). "Since the card game went viral, so many kids are starting to look up to these men as heroic figures."
8) Consumer credit unexpectedly contracted in February:
9) Construction spending rose in February:
10) Spending on data centers keeps climbing:
11) Public construction spending remained robust:
12) US personal consumption expenditures on entertainment categories continue to grow:
13) Cross-border supply chain for car engine pistons in North America:
14) From Deloitte: Enhancing supply chain resilience in a new era of policy: Managing risks and evaluating US manufacturing investments to improve operational agility
15) Who do American men and women spend time with over the course of their lives?
16) These ugly big box stores are literally bankrupting cities:
