Podcast 224: Building Trust Before Building Buildings with Janae Stark

Episode 224 of the Econ Dev Show Podcast is out. Listen now.

In this episode, Dane talks with Janae Stark about the Community Economic Revitalization Board’s “right project, right time” approach to rural economic development, from planning and project development to infrastructure financing, construction timelines, and what happens when projects go sideways. 

Janae shares how CERB works with communities and federally recognized tribes in Washington State, why trust and relationship-building matter as much as funding, and how infrastructure like buildings, roads, utilities, and rural broadband can unlock opportunity for small communities. 

The conversation also explores the less visible work behind successful projects, the importance of helping communities avoid bad bets, and why economic developers need spaces to learn from one another instead of reinventing the wheel alone.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

1. Start with project readiness, not the application. Before pursuing funding, work backward from the business or community timeline and identify permits, environmental review, match funding, private investment, and approvals needed to get to contract.
2. Treat planning as economic development work. Use planning funds and community outreach to clarify what the community actually wants to become, not just what project happens to be available.
3. Build relationships before things go wrong. Communities are more likely to call early when a business partner pulls out or a project changes if they already trust you.
4. Be willing to coach communities toward the right funder. If your program is not the best fit, help the community find the organization or funding source that can get them to yes.
5. Do not confuse urgency with readiness. A project can look exciting on paper but still be too risky if the private partner, repayment plan, permits, or timeline are not solid.
6. Ask whether the infrastructure can support more than one possible business.Projects are safer when the building, road, utility, or site improvement can be reused or marketed to another company if the original deal falls apart.
7. Help elected officials and board members understand the invisible work.Explain the project development, relationship management, and risk reduction that happen long before a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting.
8. Recognize that different infrastructure has different economic impacts.Buildings, roads, water, sewer, and electricity may directly enable business expansion, while broadband may improve community competitiveness in broader, less immediately visible ways.
9. Create peer networks for practitioners. New economic developers need places to ask basic questions, decode acronyms, find funding calendars, and learn from communities that have already solved similar problems.
10. Show up and listen locally. Especially for people new to economic development, attending community meetings, listening to difficult voices, validating concerns, and asking experienced practitioners for help are essential parts of learning the work.

Episode Links

• Janea (Jzuh-Nay) Stark | LinkedIn
• Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) – Washington State Department of Commerce
• Economic Development Done Right Makes Room for Joy | LinkedIn
• Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council | IACC annual statewide conference