ED Now

The economic development field is changing. Not in some distant, theoretical way, but right now, in the conversations practitioners are having, the strategies they are questioning, and the results they are demanding. That change allows us to rethink not just what we do, but how we decide what to do in the first place. And for that, I keep coming back to an old idea from architecture. There is a principle that has stuck with me for years. "Form follows function." Louis Sullivan coined it in the 1890s to argue that the shape of a building should grow out of its purpose. You figure out what a space needs to do, then you design accordingly. The exterior, the layout, and the materials all respond to the job at hand. When you get that sequence ...

Big social change is nothing more, really, than a bunch of people coming together to face something that no longer works for them and then working to change a collective agreement. That’s it, really. There are some other strategies and tactics that will help organize your work…but in its essence, social change is about facing and changing implicit societal agreements, together, in solidarity. It is one of the most wildly creative and joyful things you could probably do with your life. And it will challenge you to your core. –Becky Margiotta It is not uncommon for those serving in the economic development profession to feel a strong call to improve the lives of those around us. Indeed, this is often our why when we ...

Economic development has always followed a familiar checklist: sites, incentives, infrastructure, workforce. What is changing, quickly and decisively, is which of those inputs is becoming the binding constraint on growth. In 2026, it is no longer land or capital that limits regional competitiveness. It is human capacity. Regions that fail to address mental health and well-being are quietly pricing themselves out of the next decade of growth. This is not a rhetorical claim. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy roughly one trillion dollars annually in lost productivity, driven by absenteeism, presenteeism, and premature labor force exit. The same research estimates that nearly ...

ECONOMIC FORECAST U.S. companies (especially those with fewer than 500 workers which account for 46 percent of total workers) and the federal government will continue to eliminate jobs and reduce the rate of hiring. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court sustains the challenges to President Trump’s unprecedented use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose wide‑ranging tariffs, the effects of the President’s tariff policy will increase in 2026. A decision upholding the imposition of tariffs could be followed by a recession that will particularly hurt our lower-income citizens. Even if a recession is avoided, a potential reduction in employment growth, coupled with ...

The ground is moving. Economic developers who built careers on stable plans and steady policy cycles now find themselves on shifting terrain. A sea change has been occurring. Political swings, supply chain shocks, tariff fights, and fast technology shifts have changed the game. The work environment feels less like solid ground and more like moving water. This is not a short-term problem. This is the new normal. The Old Model Has Shifted For decades, economic development followed a simple logic. Build ties with a few key partners. Write a strategic plan every three to five years. Run programs. Measure results. Make small changes. The belief under all of it was that things would stay stable long enough for the plan to work. That belief no ...

In Northwest Indiana, underutilized brownfields sit alongside newly laid quantum fiber lines, creating a rare opportunity to pair legacy land with next-generation industries. The choices we make now about land reuse, energy, and community engagement will shape whether this growth is sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. As an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), I am leading an initiative to identify and prioritize at least eight brownfield sites along the emerging Quantum Fiber Corridor that stretches from Chicago to North Central Indiana. These sites will be evaluated for redevelopment potential, paired with reuse strategies, and connected to sources of public and private ...

Congress has extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — the 2018 Farm Bill — through September 30, 2026. The extension was included in the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371), which Congress passed on November 12, 2025. This law also restored federal government operations following the recent shutdown and provided funding for ongoing programs, ensuring that key Farm Bill authorities continue uninterrupted while Congress works toward a new reauthorization. The extension maintains the full range of programs originally authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, covering agriculture, nutrition assistance, conservation, and rural ...

In late 2019, the City of Eagle Pass, Texas, established its first Economic Development Department. After serving the County of El Paso, Texas, for several years, I was recruited to lead this new initiative. The hope? To leverage Eagle Pass’s low cost of living, international trade, and available workforce to create a more robust economy with an emphasis on small businesses.