https://www.goldenshovelagency.com Golden Shovel Agency News Feed Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:12:52 +0000 en-US https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/68354/sba-scale-grant-how-economic-developers-can-strengthen-business-retention-and-expansion-programs https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/68354/sba-scale-grant-how-economic-developers-can-strengthen-business-retention-and-expansion-programs Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 A new SBA grant offers up to $500,000 to help organizations deliver business support services, strengthen supply chains, and grow local businesses.For most economic developers, the businesses already operating in your community are your greatest economic development asset. Helping those employers overcome challenges, expand operations, and remain competitive is often... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/67665/building-brilliance-in-wilmington https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/67665/building-brilliance-in-wilmington Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Workforce Development Fuels New Economic EngineRiverside, a historic neighborhood in Wilmington, DE, is demonstrating how community-centered workforce development can drive equitable economic revitalization. Key stakeholders implemented a holistic redevelopment model, the REACH Riverside initiative, to prioritize resident stability, workforce readiness, and long-term economic self-sufficiency. Early results show that investing in people,... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/67410/unlocking-airport-funding-how-communities-can-turn-planning-into-progress https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/67410/unlocking-airport-funding-how-communities-can-turn-planning-into-progress Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000 For many communities, the biggest barrier to airport development isn’t vision — it’s funding. City leaders worry about local match requirements. Airport managers feel overwhelmed by federal processes. Economic developers see opportunity but struggle to connect aviation investments to broader growth goals.The reality is, the funding is out there for... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65414/what-site-consultants-want-to-see-on-your-economic-development-website https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65414/what-site-consultants-want-to-see-on-your-economic-development-website Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Your economic development website is more than a brochure — it’s your digital front door for site selectors, corporate location advisors, and potential investors. When consultants evaluate communities, the first impression often comes from your online presence. A strong digital marketing strategy for economic development begins with a website that... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65784/golden-shovel-agency-ceo-aaron-brossoit-named-to-nreda-board https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65784/golden-shovel-agency-ceo-aaron-brossoit-named-to-nreda-board Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE12/09/2025For more information, contact:Nathan Hansennhansen@goldenshovelagency.com612-414-0847Golden Shovel Agency CEO Aaron Brossoit named to NREDA BoardUnanimous vote will expand a longstanding relationship between Golden Shovel and NREDA Little Falls, MN – Golden Shovel Agency, the leading marketing and communications partner dedicated exclusively to economic development, is proud to announce that CEO... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65416/aiforward-content-strategies-for-economic-developers-how-to-promote-your-community-in-2026 https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65416/aiforward-content-strategies-for-economic-developers-how-to-promote-your-community-in-2026 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 By Bethany Quinn, President, Golden Shovel AgencyAs economic developers look for new ways to promote their communities online, adapting to an AI-driven search landscape has become essential. At Golden Shovel Agency, we’re helping organizations rethink their 2026 content strategies to ensure their communities stand out—both to people and to artificial... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65390/what-site-consultants-need-to-put-your-community-on-the-short-list https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65390/what-site-consultants-need-to-put-your-community-on-the-short-list Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Economic developers routinely ask us what site consultants want to see on an economic development website and what steps they can take to get their community on the short list. In today’s fiercely competitive environment, communities are no longer simply competing on “nice place to live” or “low taxes.” They’re... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65389/why-the-economic-gateway-is-the-best-economic-development-website-platform-outperforming-wordpress-wix-and-other-cms-options https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/65389/why-the-economic-gateway-is-the-best-economic-development-website-platform-outperforming-wordpress-wix-and-other-cms-options Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Why Your Economic Development Website Platform Matters Your economic development website is your community’s digital front door — and often the first impression for site selectors, businesses, and job seekers. It’s not just a marketing tool; it’s a business attraction engine.Yet most EDOs rely on platforms like WordPress, Wix, HubSpot, or... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/70229/is-your-airport-ready-for-drone-deliveries https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/70229/is-your-airport-ready-for-drone-deliveries Fri, 30 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Drone deliveries have started to gain traction in the United States for conveniences like restaurant orders, groceries, and small packages. But in other parts of the world, autonomous aircraft are starting to become an essential logistical tool. Drones handle critical deliveries including medical supplies, lab specimens and more. As technology... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/70001/from-airport-marketing-to-community-ownership https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/70001/from-airport-marketing-to-community-ownership Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Advantage for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a resource to explore. Place marketing researchers Braun, Kavaratzis, and Zenker argue for shifting from communication-dominant branding toward participation-dominant branding. In practical terms, that means moving beyond simply telling residents what the community's brand should... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/70059/affordability-in-action-lets-celebrate-the-communities-making-life-more-affordable https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/70059/affordability-in-action-lets-celebrate-the-communities-making-life-more-affordable Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 By Bethany Quinn, President, Golden Shovel AgencyA new national survey from the Economic Innovation Group (EIG) and Echelon Insights confirms what many economic developers are hearing in their communities: affordability is a top concern for American workers.Conducted September 1–8, 2026, among 1,507 American workers, the survey found:68% believe housing costs... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69998/what-placebranding-research-teaches-us-about-airport-advocacy https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69998/what-placebranding-research-teaches-us-about-airport-advocacy Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Advantage for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a resource to explore. In their 2013 paper, My City – My Brand: The Role of Residents in Place Branding, researchers Erik Braun, Mihalis Kavaratzis, and Sebastian Zenker challenged the conventional approach to marketing cities... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69996/your-airports-greatest-asset-may-be-the-community-that-surrounds-it https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69996/your-airports-greatest-asset-may-be-the-community-that-surrounds-it Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Advantage for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a resource to explore. A community can spend millions improving its airport, develop a new master plan, commission an economic impact study, and launch a sophisticated marketing campaign, but that can all amount to minimal... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69891/the-city-council-hoped-for-success-but-guaranteed-failure-for-the-airport https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69891/the-city-council-hoped-for-success-but-guaranteed-failure-for-the-airport Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Advantage for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a resource to explore. I am concerned about your airport. Every day, I talk to airport managers, elected officials, and economic development leaders who are fighting but ultimately failing to promote their local airport. In a... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69889/stop-ignoring-your-airport-and-start-promoting-its-growth https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69889/stop-ignoring-your-airport-and-start-promoting-its-growth Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Advantage for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a resource to explore. “Your airport is an economic engine,” I told the city council member.  “I haven’t visited the airport,” she replied. “That’s the problem.” Community leaders often describe their local airport as a problem to... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69878/is-your-airport-an-invisible-asset-take-the-aviation-opportunity-scorecard-to-find-out https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69878/is-your-airport-an-invisible-asset-take-the-aviation-opportunity-scorecard-to-find-out Tue, 06 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Advantage for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a resource to explore. I stood before the city council, answering question after question about the value of the airport in their community. The only information council members had about the facility came from residents... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69678/your-airport-cannot-compete-if-your-community-does-not-understand-its-value https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69678/your-airport-cannot-compete-if-your-community-does-not-understand-its-value Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Aviation is experiencing a revolution. Innovation and transportation are at a confluence of mobility service apps, autonomous aviation, Internet of Things and AI. Yet few communities or local airports are truly prepared to take advantage. Most elected officials can’t tell you how long the runway is at their airport or how... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69170/impactair-the-next-siteselection-criterion-wont-be-a-highway-but-it-might-be-a-vertiport https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/69170/impactair-the-next-siteselection-criterion-wont-be-a-highway-but-it-might-be-a-vertiport Fri, 11 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 ImpactAir: The Aviation Edge for Communities gives economic developers, airport executives/managers, elected officials, and industry stakeholders a source to explore. Meet George Jetson . . . Every economic development office has, by now, learned to talk fluently about broadband, workforce pipelines, and shovel-ready sites. Almost none of them can answer a question... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69178/success-story-treating-childcare-as-economic-infrastructure https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69178/success-story-treating-childcare-as-economic-infrastructure Fri, 11 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 For years, communities have recognized that childcare affects working families. The Taney County Partnership and Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce recognized something more: childcare is also a workforce and economic development issue.Together with business, nonprofit, philanthropic, and community partners, they launched a regional initiative to strengthen the childcare ecosystem... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69109/golden-shovel-agency-clients-win-big-at-maedc-awards https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69109/golden-shovel-agency-clients-win-big-at-maedc-awards Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 LITTLE FALLS, MN – Three Golden Shovel Agency clients have received recognition in Mid-America Economic Development Corporation’s 2026 Economic Development Awards for projects that helped their communities overcome adversity, grow their workforce, and create inviting new public spaces. MAEDC presented the awards Sept. 1 at the organization’s annual conference in... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69057/the-fastest-way-to-lose-a-project-make-a-no-easier-than-a-yes https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69057/the-fastest-way-to-lose-a-project-make-a-no-easier-than-a-yes Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Economic development professionals spend countless hours thinking about what they believe site selectors want. They obsess over incentives, workforce data, available sites, and infrastructure. But while those are all important pieces of the puzzle, they are only one part of what determines whether a community advances to the next round... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69006/golden-shovel-president-bethany-quinn-elected-to-sedc-board https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69006/golden-shovel-president-bethany-quinn-elected-to-sedc-board Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Golden Shovel Agency continues to expand its voice and influence in national economic development conversations following President Bethany Quinn’s election in August to the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Board of Directors as a State Director representing Maryland.Quinn, who over the past nine years has helped transform Golden Shovel Agency... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69009/success-story-reinforcing-the-value-of-print-in-business-attraction https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/69009/success-story-reinforcing-the-value-of-print-in-business-attraction Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 In an increasingly digital world, it can be easy to forget the power of a well-designed printed marketing resource. There is still room for print, though, and the Elgin Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) recognized that a piece of physical media can still support face-to-face conversations and drive desirable results.  EEDC developed... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/68830/mission-in-motion-turning-economic-development-results-into-a-story-of-community-progress https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/news/p/item/68830/mission-in-motion-turning-economic-development-results-into-a-story-of-community-progress Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Economic development is measured in investments, businesses launched, jobs created and opportunities expanded. But communicating those results effectively requires more than a collection of numbers.The Mission Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) took a new approach to telling that story through its Mission in Motion 2025 Annual Report — a document designed... https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/68787/introducing-impactair-the-aviation-edge-for-communities https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/services/impactair/p/item/68787/introducing-impactair-the-aviation-edge-for-communities Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 I have followed Robert Frost’s advice: I took the road less traveled, and it has made all the difference. I  believe that all communities deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential, and my efforts to accelerate economic growth have included serving for 14 years as a Minnesota State Representative. I...