EPISODE · Feb 17, 2025 · 35 MIN
161: Unlocking the Power of Tertiary Markets with Dr. Ronda Sauget
from Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development · host Dane Carlson
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dr. Ronda Sauget, President and CEO of Coles Together, discusses the unique advantages of tertiary markets in economic development. She explores how smaller communities like Coles County, Illinois are attracting businesses through stable workforces, easier business processes, and strong infrastructure, while sharing her journey from the Federal Reserve to leading economic development in a thriving micropolitan area. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Take fresh looks at existing assets - they might be more valuable than you think Focus on building complete ecosystems including housing, childcare, and healthcare Leverage your location's unique advantages in infrastructure and connectivity Develop strong workforce pipelines through youth apprenticeships Create strategic plans that align all community assets Build relationships with both large and small businesses Focus on quick turnaround times for business requests Highlight quality of life advantages for workforce attraction Develop strong public-private partnerships Invest in sustainable infrastructure like green energy for long-term growth Special Guest: Dr. Ronda Sauget.
What this episode covers
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dr. Ronda Sauget, President and CEO of Coles Together, discusses the unique advantages of tertiary markets in economic development. She explores how smaller communities like Coles County, Illinois are attracting businesses through stable workforces, easier business processes, and strong infrastructure, while sharing her journey from the Federal Reserve to leading economic development in a thriving micropolitan area. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Ten Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Take fresh looks at existing assets - they might be more valuable than you think Focus on building complete ecosystems including housing, childcare, and healthcare Leverage your location's unique advantages in infrastructure and connectivity Develop strong workforce pipelines through youth apprenticeships Create strategic plans that align all community assets Build relationships with both large and small businesses Focus on quick turnaround times for business requests Highlight quality of life advantages for workforce attraction Develop strong public-private partnerships Invest in sustainable infrastructure like green energy for long-term growth Special Guest: Dr. Ronda Sauget.Sponsored By:Sitehunt: Sitehunt helps economic developers understand their sites, match them to projects, and respond with confidence in minutes instead of scrambling for days. Links:Dr Ronda Sauget, MBA | LinkedIn Coles Together Greater Value in Site Selection in Tertiary Markets | Trade and Industry Development Coles Together (@colestogether) • Instagram Coles Together | Facebook
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161: Unlocking the Power of Tertiary Markets with Dr. Ronda Sauget
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