27 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week
The stories Dane thinks you need to see. May 8, 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 27 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) Happy Public Service Recognition Week.
Are economic developers public servants? I can't say for sure, but I've been one, and I've talked to hundreds (if not thousands) of economic developers. None of them were in it for the money. All of them were in it, for some degree or another, for other people's money. (And quality of life.)
Thank you for all of your public service.
2) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 194 - Econ dev news from 75 economic development executives and organizations in 22 states.
3) Podcast 172 - Pennsylvania's First Economic Strategy in 20 Years with Aaron Pitts - Making Pennsylvania sexy again (for businesses)
4) 9 New Econ Dev Jobs This Week - In seven states, from $42 - $208k
5) I'm an economic developer, and I built Sitehunt for economic developers like me. (I also interviewed more than 500 other economic developers and dozens of site selectors to build exactly what you need.) Sitehunt transforms a simple address into comprehensive property intelligence:
6) Last week: 27 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week - The stories Dane thinks you need to see. May 1, 2025 edition.
7) Last week: Economic Development and Developers in the News # 193 - Econ dev news from 44 economic development executives and organizations in 16 states.
8) Kids these days: Top 10 job aspirations for Gen Alpha:
9) Where are the oil and gas deposits in the US and Canada:
10) Meet the high-school juniors with $70,000-a-year job offers: Companies with shortages of skilled workers look to shop class to recruit future hires; 'like I'm an athlete getting all this attention from all these pro teams'
11) The ISM Manufacturing PMI indicated a contraction in April, though it was less severe than expected:
12) Factories continue to report declining staffing levels:
13) Construction spending declined in March:
