What if the future of America’s small towns isn’t decline—but possibility?

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jerry Foster, Small Town Champion at Resource Bank, to explore how communities of all sizes are turning vision into reality. Born and raised in rural Illinois, Jerry has spent years helping small towns rediscover their strengths, connect to resources, and take meaningful action to improve quality of life.

Jerry shares the story behind Resource Bank’s Inspire, Renew, Enjoy (IRE) initiative, a national effort designed to empower volunteers, advocates, and local leaders who want to renew their communities—but may not know where to start. From changing the negative narrative around rural America to helping communities uncover their unique character, Jerry explains why no story is too small and why passion—paired with the right connections—can spark real transformation.

Whether you’re from a small town, a neighborhood within a larger city, or simply someone who believes in community-driven change, this conversation offers hope, practical insight, and inspiration to help you be the transformation you want to see.

Hugh McDonald, Arkansas Secretary of Commerce, joins ShovelTalk to unpack how a “small but mighty” state has become home to global giants like Walmart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt—and now a $4 billion Google data center. In this conversation with Golden Shovel’s Bethany Quinn, McDonald shares the strategy behind Arkansas’ recent wins and what other states and regions can learn from their approach.

You’ll hear how Arkansas’ IMPACT legislation modernized incentives, strengthened data center and lithium policies, and reformed utility regulations in ways that helped land Google’s latest project while protecting local ratepayers. McDonald also dives into the state’s evolving energy strategy, the critical role of utilities and economic developers, and why a diversified mix of power sources—and strong community engagement—matters more than ever in the age of AI.

On a personal note, McDonald reflected on his own move from CEO of Entergy to public service, encouraging other retiring executives to consider how they too might contribute to their communities.

In this episode, we sit down with Shirar O’Connor, Vice President of Marketing at AdvanceCT, to explore how clarity, creativity, and strategy come together in one of the nation’s most successful economic development websites—recently honored with a Gold Award from IEDC.

With nearly three decades of experience spanning the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and beyond, Shirar offers a rare, global perspective on foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic development marketing. She shares how AdvanceCT’s data-backed, design-forward website became the digital front door for Connecticut’s business ecosystem—and how economic developers everywhere can apply the same principles to strengthen their own storytelling, even on limited budgets.

Tune in for insights on:

• FDI trends and shifting investment strategies
• Balancing creativity and clarity in economic development marketing
• Building digital tools that empower local communities
• Real-world metrics behind an IEDC Gold-winning project