The Blocking and Tackling of Economic Development

Engineering and Product – Joe Max Higgins – focused on key product development things that they need to learn in this business like SF in an acre, what’s big utilities, strategies to develop industrial property, bringing the right players to the table, having a strategic engineer on your team

Networking – Sid McMillian – importance of having a “strategic” network in this business, working to understand what’s happening project wise in your state and greater southeast, developing strategic relationships “I will open my Kamona if you open Yours”. 

Marketing for Prospects – keys to putting your community and product in front of the right people. Develop the product and the collateral material to clearly show it.  Understand your community’s story and place in this world. What sectors are your key utility and state partners focused on, what’s the project activity type, what shows are they attending, etc.  Become the best option for your utility and state economic development organizations.  Build relationships and stay engaged with active project working site consultants.  Engage your local and regional manufacturing leadership to help develop targets and use their network.  Target sectors and engage those sectors to learn and network.  Brand with emails, social media, advertising.