When I was born in 1979, Oklahoma City was the 37th-largest city in the United States. Today, we are the 20th-largest. Across the span of that half-century, our population, our GDP, our quality of life, and our economic diversification have soared. But first, we experienced a 1980s economic depression. What then followed is perhaps one of the most dynamic

Last fall, I was speaking with the mayor of a midsized city about artificial intelligence. He was worried his team couldn’t predict exactly which jobs were most at risk in his region. I told him he had a bigger problem. Politicians worry about which jobs will disappear. Economists model unemployment scenarios. Tech executives race ahead with new AI

South Summit Brazil is teaming up with IEDC as part of its Centennial Event Series, celebrating 100 years of leadership in economic development and preparing the field for the future. The partnership is in collaboration with Invest RS, the development and investment promotion agency of Rio Grande do Sul and a strategic partner of the event. “The

As part of its Centennial Event Series, IEDC convened a flagship gathering at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 in Austin, Texas, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, ecosystem builders, and economic development leaders to explore the future of the field. Designed as a curated, future-focused convening, the event created space for meaningful exchange

The Economic Recovery Corps (ERC), a flagship IEDC initiative, continues to demonstrate the impact of investing in embedded talent. This month, ERC Fellow George Williams was accepted into the University of Oxford Saïd Business School’s MSc in Major Programme Management — the world’s leading research program on why megaprojects

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is seeking public input through a new Request for Information (RFI) under its Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative. The ROUTES Initiative, established in 2019 and later codified in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, focuses on improving transportation

From March 1–3, more than 600 economic development leaders and partners from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit — the largest in the event’s history. Set against the backdrop of the nation’s capital during IEDC’s centennial year, the

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recently honored the recipients of the 2025 Industry Leaders Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in the field of economic development. IEDC celebrated the achievements of these leaders and thanked them for their commitment to advancing