Podcast 207: Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds

Episode 207 of the Econ Dev Show Podcast is out. Listen now.

Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds

A practical conversation with Ellie Reynolds on signaling “open for business” through speed, infrastructure, regulatory reform, and strategic growth in Douglas County, Colorado.

Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic DevelopmentDane Carlson

About this Episode

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market. 

Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way. 

The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth.

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Episode Links

• Ellie Reynolds | LinkedIn
• Douglas County - Economic Development Corporation
• Favorite book: The Path to Power by Margaret Thatcher

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Treat speed-to-market as a formal incentive, not a side benefit
2. Benchmark your permitting timelines against national competitors, not neighboring jurisdictions
3. Invest in infrastructure before demand peaks to avoid reactive development
4. Participate directly in comprehensive planning, transportation, and housing discussions
5. Build coalitions with neighboring regions to amplify your voice at the state level
6. Use shovel-ready sites as a signal of seriousness to site selectors
7. Frame economic development as risk mitigation, not growth for growth's sake
8. Leverage AI as a research and capacity multiplier for small teams
9. Align targeted industries with workforce education and quality-of-life assets
10. When state policy is out of reach, double down on what local government can control.