Podcast 180: Red Tape, Real Stories, and Economic Revival with Kevin Crowder
"Miami Vice" Economic Development Advice
Table of Contents
Episode 180 of the Econ Dev Show Podcast is out. Listen now.
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Kevin Crowder, author of "Red Tape Empire", publisher of Street Economics Daily and founder of BusinessFlare, to explore the intersection of fiction and reality in economic development.
Crowder shares the inspiration behind his novel, which tells the story of a woman returning to revitalize her family business while battling bureaucratic obstacles, a narrative rooted in his real experiences working in Miami Beach development.
The conversation delves into pivotal moments like the 1986 Calvin Klein campaign that transformed South Beach from European catalog shoots to a celebrity fashion destination, illustrating how strategic exposure can unlock a city's hidden potential.
Crowder emphasizes the ongoing challenges economic developers face, from navigating red tape to managing the tension between preserving the status quo and embracing transformative change.
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Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
- Identify your community's hidden assets that could attract new audiences if properly exposed
- Use storytelling and fiction to process and share complex development experiences in relatable ways
- Look for strategic partnerships with creative industries (fashion, film, media) to showcase your location
- Document and learn from pivotal moments that transformed other communities for replication strategies
- Develop the political will and stakeholder buy-in necessary to move beyond status quo thinking
- Anticipate and plan for resistance from established interests when proposing transformative changes
- Focus on "exposure" opportunities that can shift perceptions and attract new investment
- Build relationships with entrepreneurs who can see potential where others see problems
- Create accessible content (newsletters, social media) to share development insights with broader audiences
- Recognize that successful economic development requires both strategic vision and the force of will to execute despite obstacles
Episode Links
- Kevin Crowder, EDP | LinkedIn
- BusinessFlare
- Street Economics Daily
- Red Tape Empire: You can't beat city hall until you have nothing left to lose by Kevin Crowder
- Kevin Crowder (@businessflareofficial) • Instagram
- Kevin Crowder, CEcD (@BusinessFlare) / X
- All of Kevin's books
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