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26 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week

The stories Dane thinks you need to see. August 21, 2025 edition.

Dane Carlson
Dane Carlson
6 min read
26 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week

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 26 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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Learn More

1) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 209 - Econ dev news from 66 economic development executives and organizations in 25 states.


2) Podcast # 186: The Power of Collaboration in Economic Development with Stacie LoVan of the Greater Des Moines Partnership - Collaboration outweighs competition in regional development.


3) 10 New Economic Development Jobs This Week - From $45k to $225k.


4) 24 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week - The stories Dane thinks you need to see. August 14, 2025 edition.


5) Put Sitehunt in Next Year’s Budget: Here’s the 3-Line Justification - Budget season’s here (or almost here).


6) Gen Alpha's dream careers:


7) The key ingredients of college town success: Small colleges in small towns are up against stiff odds. But some are finding ways to thrive.


8) Why child care is a foundational economic strategy:


9) From Josh Wright at Lightcast: Are Americans Really Not Moving?

This was written in response to this article from the WSJ: Nobody's Buying Homes, Nobody's Switching Jobs--and America's Mobility Is Stalling.


10) How Disney learned to love its adult superfans: Kids' companies are increasingly catering to the "kidult" consumer. With birth rates falling around the world, adults are the fastest-growing sector of the market for products like Lego, board games and stuffed animals. According to a 2024 report by the research firm Circana, teens and adults make up over 28% of European toy sales.


11) What declining cardboard box sales tell us about the US economy: Box demand touches nearly every industry, from flat-screen TVs to packaged food, all of which see sales fluctuate based on how flush shoppers feel.


12) I thought it was only here. I'm sad that you're all dealing with this, too: Golf carts have taken over suburbia.


13) Execs may still fret over tariffs, but recession talk has collapsed to its lowest since 2005, and markets are surging as odds of a downturn keep falling:


14) How much money do Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Pinterest, and Snapchat make from you?


15) Guess I need to get serious about putting my podcasts on Youtube:



Related Posts

Members Public

Economic Development and Developers in the News # 209

Econ dev news from 66 economic development executives and organizations in 25 states.

Economic Development and Developers in the News # 209
Members Public

Podcast # 186: The Power of Collaboration in Economic Development with Stacie LoVan of the Greater Des Moines Partnership

Collaboration outweighs competition in regional development.

Podcast # 186: The Power of Collaboration in Economic Development with Stacie LoVan of the Greater Des Moines Partnership
Members Public

10 New Economic Development Jobs This Week

From $45k to $225k.

10 New Economic Development Jobs This Week