24 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week
The stories Dane thinks you need to see. August 14, 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 24 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) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 208 - Econ dev news from 54 economic development executives and organizations in 24 states.
2) Podcast # 185: How Local Governments Can Power Startups with John Lynn - Turning vacant storefronts into success stories
3) 11 New Economic Development Jobs This Week - In 9 states + 1 remote, from $58 - $225k
4) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 207 - Econ dev news from 86 economic development executives and organizations in 23 states.
5) From Newsletter and Podcast to Platform: How Sitehunt is Transforming Economic Development - From industry conversations to industry solutions
6) A look at housing prices by state: California tops U.S. home prices at $825K, while Midwest and Southern states remain the most affordable under $250K. Mountain West states like Utah, Montana, and Idaho have surged in value, fueled by pandemic-era migration and rising demand:
7) The biggest industry in every state reveals real estate as the leading GDP driver in 26 states, followed by manufacturing in 13, with finance, mining, and government topping only a handful. These patterns reflect each region's unique mix of resources, history, and business climate:
8) If you want to develop a workforce 🏭 that can power your town into the future, you must: Keep as many people in your community as you can and attract new ones.. Here's how, from Andy Portera.
9) How states and cities decimated Americans’ lowest-cost housing option: The decline of single-room occupancy and the rise of homelessness in the U.S.
10) The end of de minimis is trouble for e-commerce sellers and consumers: The trade provision that allowed companies to avoid duties on shipments worth $800 or less has ended.
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11) Inflation-adjusted house prices are 2.0% below 2022 peak:
12) Cheap and large weddings are correlated with lower divorce rates:
