Economic Development Marketing 101
May 12, 2025
What fuels a thriving community? At its core, economic development is about more than just numbers, it’s about people, opportunity and creating places where businesses and talent want to be. Whether you’re new to your marketing role in economic development and talent attraction or a seasoned pro, this blog series will make sure you know all the industry lingo, resources and research to ground your efforts.
Complimented by data from DCI’s Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing and Talent Wars reports, this series shares what marketers need to know, starting with the basics.
Why Economic Development Matters
Imagine one new company setting up shop in your region—and five more businesses springing up to support it. That’s the multiplier effect of smart economic development. From job creation and capital investment to increased tax revenue and quality-of-life improvements, the ripple effect is real. But these results don’t happen by accident, they come from intentional planning and strong partnerships across public, private and academic sectors.
Hot Topics Shaping the Industry
What’s top of mind for economic development professionals? To name a few, workforce and talent, cost of doing business, affordable and available housing, infrastructure, childcare, education, incentives and quality of life. These factors play a huge role in making a place attractive to both employers and the people they need to hire. Knowing how to position your community across these fronts is key to standing out.
Who’s Listening? Know Your Audience
Whether you’re trying to reach CEOs, CFOs, site selectors or the next wave of talent, one size doesn’t fit all. Tailored messaging and savvy marketing strategies make all the difference in breaking through and landing on the radar of decision-makers.
The Art of a Winning Deal
Need proof that bold investments pay off? Look no further than Ohio. Intel’s historic $20 billion commitment is creating thousands of jobs and setting off a wave of related tech, education and infrastructure growth. It’s a powerful example of how one smart move can reshape a region’s future.
What’s Working in Economic Development Marketing
Every three years since 1996, DCI has asked top decision-makers what actually works when it comes to marketing places. The Winning Strategies report is a go-to resource for what’s trending—and what’s timeless.
Consistent key takeaways? Decision-makers get their information from industry peers, travel, media coverage, the internet, word of mouth, social media and rankings. A sharp website, in-person visits with executives, special events, media buzz, emails and social media campaigns are all proven marketing tactics.
Why Talent Attraction Matters
Talent attraction is no longer just an HR function, it’s a core strategy for economic development. With more jobs than qualified workers, talent availability has become a top site selection factor. Companies are making it clear: if the workforce they need isn’t there, they’ll invest elsewhere. In response, economic development organizations are shifting their focus from simply attracting businesses to attracting people, marketing their regions as great places to live, work and thrive.
Talent Wars: What Really Moves People
Each year, DCI surveys 1,000 working-age individuals who recently relocated to uncover trends in talent attraction, publishing the findings in its Talent Wars report. While many patterns remain consistent yearly, the latest edition always reveals new shifts.
What Are Industry Clusters?
When similar businesses cluster together in one geographic area, everyone benefits — companies, workers, and the local economy. Think of Silicon Valley for technology or Detroit for automotive manufacturing. These ecosystems foster innovation, drive competition and encourage collaboration, creating an environment where businesses can thrive. They also attract investment, fuel research and development and build deep pools of specialized talent that companies can draw from. Over time, industry clusters can transform entire regions into global leaders within their sector.
Site Selectors: The Power Players Behind the Scenes
Site selection consultants — often called site consultants, site selectors, location advisors or SSCs — are the matchmakers of the economic development world, helping companies decide where to locate, expand or relocate their businesses. Some specialize by industry, while others focus on specific stages of the site selection process, from narrowing hundreds of metro areas to one final site to negotiating incentives between companies and communities.
Their projects can range from billion-dollar investments to small business startups, and they are involved in about 40% of site selection decisions at some point in the process. Beyond corporate site selection, many also assist with business relocation, incentives negotiation and broader economic development consulting. For economic development organizations (EDOs), understanding what matters to site selectors is critical: these consultants offer valuable insights into company decision-making priorities and serve as a direct line to multiple companies through a single relationship. DCI helps EDOs market more effectively to this influential group, even partnering closely with the Site Selectors Guild, the leading association of top site selection professionals.
Economic development is part science, part art—and always evolving. Stay tuned for more learnings in this blog series. If you’re ready to explore how DCI can help market your region for business investment, reach out to DCI’s President of Economic Development Julie Curtin at julie.curtin@aboutdci.com.
Check out our full talent attraction and economic development marketing blog series:
Navigating the Talent Attraction Marketing Landscape
The Vital Role of Site Selection Consultants in Economic Development
The Evolving Power of Foreign Direct Investment
