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

Fort Worth has just become the 11th largest city in the U.S.—surpassing Austin—and it’s not slowing down. In this episode, Robert Allen, President & CEO of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, shares how the city is balancing big-league business attraction with strong support for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and residents. From aerospace and logistics to film, TV, and vibrant downtown corridors, Fort Worth’s privately funded, nimble approach to economic development offers a blueprint for communities everywhere. Robert also opens up about his path into the field from the Governor's office to leading statewide economic development efforts, the importance of civic collaboration, and the lessons he’s learned in making cities both competitive and livable.

What happens when a former TV news anchor trades the bright lights of the city for the charm of rural America? In this episode, we sit down with Cory Hepola, host of the hit docuseries My Town, to explore the heart, hustle, and hidden treasures of small-town life.

Cory shares his personal journey from dreaming of the big city to rediscovering the magic of small communities—and how My Town is rewriting the narrative about rural America. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, powerful examples of local pride in action, and tips on how communities can catch the eye of national media.

Bonus: My Town is now accepting applications for its next season—find out what it takes to get your town on the map!

Inclusive economic development means creating opportunities for everyone in the community to build wealth. But, how do we do that as economic developers? NGIN's Senior Advisor, Cuevas Peacock shares his insights and information on a grant program that can help your community to increase capacity and bring about transformative change.

Christophe Trahan shares his team’s approach to BR&E, why relationships matter and how deep conversations are producing economic opportunities for local businesses and the foreign companies growing in this Northeast Texas community. Listen for Christophe’s tips on how communities of any size can use BR&E to create a positive economic impact.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor is conducting 11% of all BR&E visits in the state of Iowa. In this episode, Golden Shovel's Bethany Quinn is joined by Curt Strouth, President & CEO, and Joanne Follon, Business Retention and Workforce Partnership Coordinator for an engaging discussion on BR&E best practices, how to develop a good program and the joy of making an impact. Learn more about their BR&E program here. #BRE #BusinessRetentionExpansion #IowaLakesCorridor