New Year, New Understanding: Economic Development in Plain English

People hear the phrase and think it’s only about recruiting a big company or cutting a ribbon. Sometimes those things happen, but most economic development is quieter than that. It’s the steady, behind-the-scenes work of helping our communities stay strong, grow wisely, and be a place people choose to live, work, and invest.

To me, economic development matters because it touches everyday life. It shows up in whether we have good jobs that let families stay here, whether local businesses can find employees, whether young people see a future in our towns, and whether we have the basics that make life work—housing, childcare, infrastructure, and reliable internet. When those pieces are healthy, communities feel stable. When they’re not, you see it in empty buildings, long commutes, and fewer options for families and employers.

So, what does the process actually look like? A lot of it starts with listening—talking with business owners, community leaders, and residents to understand what’s working and what’s getting in the way. From there, we take inventory of what we have to offer: available buildings and sites, utility capacity, workforce skills, broadband coverage, and quality-of-life strengths. We spend a lot of time supporting the businesses already here because some of the biggest wins come from local employers expanding, hiring, and choosing to keep their roots in Sumner County. Recruitment is part of the picture too, but it’s not “anything at any cost”—it’s about bringing in opportunities that fit our workforce and match the future we want. And yes, there’s grant work—competitive, detailed, and not glamorous—but it can be the difference between a project staying on paper and actually happening.

Here’s the part I want to emphasize most: economic development isn’t just something “an office” does. It’s something a community does. You’re part of it when you shop local, welcome newcomers, volunteer, show up for conversations about housing or childcare or broadband, or simply share what you love about where we live. Our story travels through everyday conversations, and that story matters.