30 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week
The stories Dane thinks you need to see. May 29, 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 30 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 # 197 - Econ dev news from 89 economic development executives and organizations in 25 states.
2) Transforming Second-Tier Markets into Economic Powerhouses with Barry Broome - How to Turn Your Underdog City into a Clean Tech Champion
3) 31 New Econ Dev Jobs This Week - In 19 states, from $31 - $200,000.
4) 36 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week - The stories Dane thinks you need to see. May 22, 2025 edition.
5) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 196 - Econ dev news from 74 economic development executives and organizations in 32 states.
6) I can't tell you the number of chamber and econ dev leaders that have boasted to me about their new workforce development centers. I always tell them that their next investment in workforce needs to be a daycare. Look at these daycare costs by state:
7) Tim Carty: Why human touch still wins (and other thoughts from SelectUSA)
8) From Andrew Ratchford of Site Selection Group: How 'Made in USA', the Buy American Act, and the Build America, Buy America Act shape industrial site selection.
9) First sale rule: Businesses are finding a workaround for tariffs — and it's entirely legal.
10) They tore down a highway and made it a river (and traffic got better):
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11) Tariffs in American history: (TL;DR Tariffs in U.S. history started as a main way to raise money and protect new industries, later caused major conflicts between regions, hurt global trade during the Great Depression, and have now become an important part of how the U.S. deals with other countries.)
12) From Jim Gibson: Is Government Intervention Good for Economic Growth? It Depends.
13) April home sales dropped to the slowest pace for that month since 2009:
14) While inventories continue to rise:
