SEDE Spring Meeting: What’s on the Minds of State Economic Development Leaders?

The State Economic Development Executives Network (SEDE) recently gathered alongside the SelectUSA Investment Summit for a half-day meeting of state economic development leaders from across the country. The conversation covered a lot of ground — and reflected just how much the landscape has shifted for states trying to attract investment, develop talent, and make the case for what they do.

The group was joined by Caleb Spencer, Acting Chief of Staff at the Economic Development Administration, who provided updates on new federal programming, including an upcoming AI workforce development initiative and disaster recovery grant opportunities through EDA.

Energy is now a first-order site selection question. Nearly every state in the room identified energy availability and cost as a decisive factor for companies considering new investments — particularly data centers and advanced manufacturers with significant power demands. Grid congestion, transmission constraints, and local opposition to energy-intensive development are real obstacles, and states are thinking carefully about the long-term role of nuclear power as part of the answer.

Workforce development is getting more sophisticated. States are moving beyond traditional approaches, pursuing skills-based hiring, building earlier career pipelines, and finding creative ways to grow their talent pools — including programs targeting transitioning military personnel and campaigns to bring former residents home.

State strategies are being reassessed across the board. Shifting business needs, affordability pressures, changes to incentive structures, and federal policy uncertainty are prompting states to take a hard look at how they operate, who they partner with, and how they tell their story to legislators and the public.

The peer exchange that SEDE facilitates — frank, experienced, and off the record — remains one of the most valuable things the network offers. The next meeting will be held this fall in Denver, Colorado.

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SEDE Meeting Registrants

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