The way site selectors search has evolved, and communities have more opportunity than ever to participate early in the process. In this episode, Susan and Charles examine how discovery in corporate location strategy is increasingly shaped by structured visibility. Drawing on lessons from Rich Barton’s experiences building Expedia and Zillow, they explore how aggregation reorganizes search by giving buyers the ability to filter, narrow, and save options before formal RFIs, calls, or site visits occur.

When markets feel uncertain, site selection doesn’t stop. It becomes more selective, more compressed, and more dependent on clear, reliable site information. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles sit down with Lindsey Cannon of Quest Site Solutions to talk about what actually happens when projects move from early interest to real evaluation, and why many sites fall out once timelines, utilities, permitting, and data quality come into focus.

Public economic data systems are being stretched thinner at the same time local decision-making depends on them more than ever. In this episode of The Ribbon Cut, Susan and Charles are joined by Ken Poole to explain what’s happening behind the scenes at federal data agencies, and why staffing cuts, privacy constraints, and rising demand for localized detail are changing how workforce and economic data should be interpreted.

Rural economic development is less about landing one big win and more about making disciplined, data-backed decisions over time. Carolyn Chrisman of Chrisman Consulting joins Susan and Charles to discuss how data-driven strategy helps rural communities move past assumptions and build realistic paths forward. Drawing from decades of methodology rooted in the Ady Advantage legacy, Carolyn explains how communities identify what they’re actually competitive in and what to stop chasing.

Site selection has changed dramatically over the last two decades, but many communities are still operating as if it hasn’t. In this episode, Larry Gigerich of Ginovus joins Susan and Charles to share what he’s learned from more than 25 years advising companies across North America. From manufacturing and life sciences to logistics and data centers, Larry breaks down how decisions really get made, and where communities most often fall behind.

LOIS has been around for more than two decades, but many teams still ask what makes it different from other property marketing tools. In this FAQ edition, Susan and Charles take you inside the origins of LOIS, why a utility originally built it, and how it grew into one of the most widely adopted mapping platforms in economic development. If you’re responsible for marketing sites, shaping your digital strategy, or helping communities get discovered, this episode offers a straightforward, practical guide to what LOIS does and why it works.

Whether you’re responding to RFIs, managing multi-partner coordination, or trying to create more consistency in your process, this episode brings the essentials into focus.

Clayco isn’t just building facilities. They’re building ecosystems around their projects that drive workforce development, infrastructure investment, and long-term business retention. If you want to attract complex projects (and keep them healthy) this episode is essential listening.

Forget flashy incentives. South Dakota is winning advanced manufacturing and foreign direct investment by doing the fundamentals better than most. In this episode of the Ribbon Cut podcast, we sit down with Adam Molseed from the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development to explore how South Dakota is carving out a competitive edge by being fast, friendly, and financially lean.

Richard Blackwell has lived every phase of economic development on projects across 23 states. From spec buildings to industrial parks with built-in career centers.