Site Selectors Are People, Too

(Ep 207) Dealing with Real Estate

In this episode, Devin talks through a topic he's passionate about - activating your real estate for economic development purposes. A community's land is one of its most precious assets, and if you don't take control of its future then someone sure as heck will. We explore how to break down the steps to real estate activation through a simple process and bring some order to the chaos. So let's roll up our sleeves, get down and dirty, and discuss some actionable steps to tackling real estate in economic development.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
Urban Land Institute (ULI)
The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE)
CCIM Institute
Journal of Property Investment & Finance
An Overview of DMAIC for Beginners
Measuring Commercial Real Estate's Impact
Understanding the Real Estate Development Process (& 4 Ways to Scale)
Real Estate Development Timeline: The Complete Developer’s Guide
Real Estate Development Process
Real Estate Development Crash Course: The Development Process in 7-Minutes

(Ep 206) FAM Tours - Keith Gillenwater - The Enterprise Group of Jackson

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
In this installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Keith Gillenwater, the president & CEO of The Enterprise Group of Jackson in Michigan. We discuss what it's like as an economic developer to land in a new community and how to host a top tier familiarization (FAM) tour for site selectors.
 
Keith can be reached at:
keith@enterprisegroup.org
(517) 788-4456

(Ep 205) Economic Development Marketing - Jonathan Sackett - Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
In this installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Jonathan Sackett, head of marketing and communications at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
How do economic development professionals market their communities? How do you create a compelling brand for a community? Tune in to find out and much, much more.
If you enjoyed this episode, you're in luck - this is Part 2 of 2 of a much larger conversation! Go check out Part 1 on The NEI Pioneer Podcast and follow them here: Podcast | Pioneer Starts Here

(Ep 204) Work-Life Balance

In this episode of Site Selectors Are People, Too, Devin tackles work-life balance in a highly competitive environment. Let's take a look at some of the unique demands and challenges associated with each profession (site selection and economic development) and scratch the surface of some best practices and strategies for finding balance. Traveling too much? Expected to show up at too many community events? You're not alone.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
Work/Life Balance Tips for Professionals:
Forbes: Work-Life Balance Tips for Busy Professionals
Harvard Business Review: Time Management Tips
Resources for Site Selectors and Economic Developers:
Site Selectors Guild: Resources
International Economic Development Council (IEDC): Tools and Resources
Economic Development Administration (EDA): Resources for Economic Developers
Strategies for Managing Work/Life Balance:
Mind Tools: Work-Life Balance Toolkit
The Muse: How to Maintain a Work-Life Balance
Support Networks and Communities:
LinkedIn Groups for Site Selectors
Economic Development Networks and Forums
Mental Health and Well-being:
National Institute of Mental Health: Stress Management
Mental Health America: Work/Life Balance

(Ep 203) Electric Cooperatives in Rural America - Matthew Marshall - Minnkota Power Cooperative

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
 
In this second installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Matthew Marshall, manager of member services, rates & economic development for the Minnkota Power Cooperative in North Dakota and Minnesota.
 
Matthew can be reached at:
mmarshall@minnkota.com
(701) 630-4658

(Ep 202) Regionalism - Keith Lambert - Lansing Economic Area Partnership

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, features the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
 
In this installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Keith Lambert, chief operating officer for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership in Michigan.
 
Keith can be reached at:
keith@purelansing.com
(517) 331-2990

(Ep 201) Public Engagement in Confidential Projects

In the 1st Episode of Season 2 of Site Selectors Are People, Too, Devin responds to a listener question about how the public can get more engaged with economic development projects. How do we balance critical project confidentiality with the community's right to know what's coming next? It's not an easy topic, but it's one worth discussing.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
The Role of Transparency and Accountability for Economic Development in Resource-rich Countries
Making Politics Work for Development: Harnessing Transparency and Citizen Engagement
How transparency can help the global economy to grow
Our Commitment to Transparency
Transparency: Economic Development
Economic Development Transparency
Transparency and Accountability in Development: Where Do We Stand?
Transparency and Accountable Development
Sports, Jobs, & Taxes: Are New Stadiums Worth the Cost?
How Amazon, Google and Other Companies Exploit NDAs

(Ep 111) Community Leadership - Bryant Niehoff - Uplands Science & Technology Foundation

Stories from the Road, a miniseries within the podcast, will feature the people behind the profession in the communities Devin visits and within his network of esteemed misfits.
 
In this first installment of the miniseries, Devin is joined by Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Uplands Science & Technology Foundation in southwest Indiana.
 
Bryant can be reached at:
BNIEHOFF@USTFWESTGATE.ORG
(812) 259-2177
 

(Ep 110) The RFI Process

In the 10th episode of Site Selectors Are People, Too, Devin takes a look at the RFI and how it informs the site selection process as a whole. We dig into how the RFI is put together and how economic developers can better tailor their efforts to increase their chances of success. If you don't get the results you want, does that mean you failed? Or does that mean your community simply wasn't the right fit for the project?
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
How to Respond to an RFI
How to Write a Smart RFI
Breaking Down the Site Selection Process
10 Critical Factors to Consider During Corporate Site Selection
Buyer Beware: Navigating the Murky Waters of Site Selection
12 mistakes to avoid in the site selection process
Site Selection In 2024: What Risks Define Business Investment Decisions?

(Ep 109) The Life of an Economic Developer

In today's episode, Devin explores the realities of being an economic developer. What does it take to get the job done? What does a day in the life look like? Let's dig beyond the tip of the iceberg of being an economic developer, including what it takes to serve as the intersection between community and business.
Here's some resources for those interested in learning more (see Site Selectors Are People, Too | Devin Hillsdon-Smith (podbean.com) if your app doesn't show links):
What is Economic Development?
Remaking Economic Development
Tools for Economic Development
The Importance of Young Firms for Economic Growth
What is an Economic Developer and How to Become One