Podcast 164: Confronting Workforce Challenges in Wisconsin with Sadie Howell

When challenges won't get out of the way, just go around them.

10 Mar 2025 — 2 min read

Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

Study the layout of your community's stakeholders, including their biases and politics, to identify which challenges you can overcome and which you should work around.
Recognize that most economic developers face similar challenges with boards, communities, and regional impacts - you're not alone.
Leverage the complementary strengths of chamber of commerce and economic development functions when possible.
Address workforce issues by coordinating efforts across regions rather than trying to solve everything at the local level.
Challenge misconceptions about your region by actively showcasing lesser-known economic assets like small manufacturers.
Connect local economic development priorities with state-level initiatives around talent attraction, childcare, and housing development.
Network with other economic developers to validate your experiences and gather new approaches to common challenges.
Consider how to tailor workforce programming specifically for chamber members while making entrepreneurship services broadly available.
Identify early in your planning process which obstacles can be overcome and which need to be circumvented.
Use podcasts and other learning resources to continuously build your economic development knowledge, especially in areas outside your expertise.