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For decades, rural economic development has run on a single metric: jobs created. A company announces a project, elected officials hold a press conference, and the headline reads “500 new jobs.” The entire political justification for incentive packages, land deals, and tax abatements has orbited around that number. Communities measure success by it. Legislators justify public investment through it. Economic developers keep score with it. Data centers do not fit that model. And that mismatch is what makes them one of the strongest economic development opportunities rural communities have encountered in a generation. A Structural Shift, Not a Trend Pew Research Center reported in April 2026 that 67% of all new data centers ...

As part of IEDC’s 100th anniversary year, we are proud to relaunch the Economic Development Journal (EDJ), a trusted source of knowledge and thought leadership exclusively for IEDC members. An annual publication sponsored by IEDC’s Economic Development Research Partners (EDRP) program, the renewed journal features peer-reviewed research and practitioner-driven insights on the issues shaping communities today, from workforce transformation and entrepreneurship-led development to foreign direct investment, regional collaboration, and more. This new chapter reinforces IEDC’s commitment to advancing the field through credible, data-driven content that helps practitioners navigate an increasingly complex economic ...

The latest installment of IEDC's Economic Development Insights Series explores findings from the 2025 State of the Economic Development Field Survey to better understand the factors driving technology adoption, learning, and professional growth across the profession. What Actually Drives Technology Adoption and Professional Development in Economic Development? examines how practitioners engage with emerging tools and training opportunities, the barriers they face, and the organizational conditions that support innovation and continuous learning. As economic development continues to evolve, these insights can help organizations make more informed decisions about workforce development, technology investments, and professional capacity ...

Dimensions of Economic Development Practice presents findings from IEDC’s State of the Field survey, exploring how practitioners define the varied aspects of economic development in their own words. Further, it advances understanding of how the profession's evolving dimensions reflect broader shifts toward data-driven and inclusive growth. Access the Report

Across the field, one challenge continues to surface. Projects that matter locally often don’t “pencil” in traditional capital markets. The International Economic Development Council’s Community Capital Investment Accelerator (CCIA) is a new national pilot designed to address that gap — supporting communities in designing and launching locally governed, community-controlled investment funds. Launched with support from The Kresge Foundation and developed in partnership with the National Coalition for Community Capital, the Accelerator is bringing together a cohort of communities working to move from advanced concept to implementation-ready fund structures through structured learning, technical assistance, and ...

Nathan Ohle’s journey in economic development started through the human services and social work lens. Motivated by his passion for helping families, his career turned unexpectedly after working at a local family center focused on serving families on the economic edges. This early work sparked Ohle’s curiosity about how policy decisions are made and how those decisions shape what happens on the ground – a curiosity that led him to serve in former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s administration. From there, Ohle joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), leading efforts for three different economic development boards during the Great Recession. He later moved on to the U.S. Economic Development ...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how economic development organizations work, unlocking new levels of efficiency, insight, and impact. This members-only AI Toolkit provides practical guidance on how to integrate AI into daily workflows, from data analysis and grant writing to stakeholder communications and strategic planning. Explore the full resource to learn how to leverage AI tools effectively, enhance productivity, and drive stronger outcomes for your community. Read here

Every seasoned economic developer knows how vital it is to cultivate existing industry for long term growth. The concept of economic gardening is to nurture employers, developers, and local institutions to support each other, giving them collectively deeper roots in their community while growing sustainable jobs. But did you know that the hardiest organizations are those that sell products and services to foreign buyers, and have globalized their clientele? In their own backyards, many communities have native entrepreneurs, family-owned firms, and even institutions of higher learning that quietly conduct international operations while innovating, competing, and winning growth opportunities around the world. In the U.S., these businesses ...