Bethany J. Miller, CEcD

Economic development strategies take serious time, money, and community energy to create. They often involve outside consultants, dozens of stakeholders, and deep conversations about where a community is headed. But once the plan is adopted, the real question becomes: what happens in the years before the next big planning process begins? Community priorities rarely stand still. Leadership changes. Market conditions shift. Data center demand may surge, splitting consensus on the best...

Summer can look quieter on the calendar, but for economic development organizations, it is one of the best windows to sharpen strategy before the fall rush begins. With major industry gatherings and other state and regional events landing in late summer and fall, now is the time to get organized, visible, and ready to convert conversations into opportunities. Here are three things to do before the autumn bustle moves into full swing, in no particular order. 1. The message refresh Before...

Hi everyone, I am SO thrilled to have joined the team here at Hickey Global and wanted to give a proper introduction. I have a diversified background in State, Local, and Regional Economic Development. While completing my degree in Agriculture Business Management at North Carolina State University, I began a position as an economic development intern at the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, focusing on marketing, public relations, and communications. During my 11 months there, I had a...