News & Resources
March 19: SEDE-UEDA Webinar (SEDE) Members of the State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network are invited to a webinar to learn about the role of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA), how it supports state economic development priorities, and where SEDE members can engage with and benefit from the UEDA network. Michael Aikens and Andrea Kruszka of Tennessee Tech University’s Center for Rural Innovation will lead the webinar and draw on their extensive experience working at the intersection of universities, rural communities, and state partners. Join us on March 19, at 3:00PM ET. Register here.
May 4: SEDE Summer Meeting (SEDE) The State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network is holding its summer meeting for state economic development executives or their top deputy in Washington, DC on the afternoon of May 4th in conjunction with SelectUSA activities. Leaders are encouraged to attend SelectUSA and take time to stop over for this afternoon SEDE meeting which will be just two blocks from the Investment Summit. Much of the meeting will be dedicated to opportunities for networking among the state economic development commissioners, secretaries and executive directors or their top deputy. Register here.
Energy/Economic Development Community of Practice RMI, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and CREC are piloting a community of practice (CoP) to help state energy policymakers and economic development leaders build joint public/private investment strategies for the new electro-industrial era. Pilot programming includes monthly virtual sessions starting in February 2026 and an in-person working retreat in Colorado in July. For more information on how state economic development leaders can participate, please contact Aaron Brickman (abrickman@rmi.org) or Lachlan Carey (lcarey@rmi.org).
Brookings: Turning the Data Center Boom into Long-Term, Local Prosperity (Brookings) The AI goldrush roars on. Hyperscalers like Google and artificial intelligence (AI) upstarts like OpenAI continue to pour massive sums into building gargantuan data centers, often in small- and medium-sized communities. However, local leaders are questioning the credibility of Big Tech’s promises of spillover effects that will produce high-quality economic development beyond near-term construction.
Data Under Pressure: What’s Breaking (and What Still Works) in Economic Intelligence (Strata Platforms) Public economic data systems are being stretched thinner at the same time local decision-making depends on them more than ever. Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness CEO Ken Poole joins Strata Platforms’ podcast to explain what’s happening behind the scenes at federal data agencies, and why staffing cuts, privacy constraints, and rising demand for localized details are changing how workforce and economic data should be interpreted.
State Leader Spotlight
Christopher Chung, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
In 2015, Christopher Chung joined the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) as Chief Executive Officer and brings to the role nearly 30 years of state-level economic development experience spanning three different states. As a public-private partnership funded by both the State of North Carolina and more than 80 companies and organizations statewide, the EDPNC is responsible for a number of economic development functions on behalf of the State of North Carolina, including new business attraction, existing business support, international trade and export assistance, small business start-up counseling, tourism marketing, film and TV production recruitment, and industrial site development.
With a staff of 75 professionals and an annual operating budget of more than $25 million, the EDPNC is focused on improving the economic well-being and quality of life for the 11 million (and counting) residents who call North Carolina home. Since 2015, the EDPNC has helped North Carolina win more than 1,400 corporate location and expansion projects, resulting in more than 220,000 announced new jobs and $100 billion in announced new investment statewide.
State Leaders on the Move
New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs
We’re pleased to share recent leadership changes across State Economic Development leaders. Join us in celebrating these transitions and welcoming new leaders to our community!
Outgoing Leader: Chase Hagaman, Commissioner
Hagaman worked with the State of New Hampshire for nearly five years as the Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Relief and Recovery and then serving as the Commissioner for BEA. He will join the NH Housing Finance Authority leading the homeownership division. In this role, Chase will lead and oversee all aspects of the agency’s homeownership programs and servicing portfolio.
Incoming Leader: Lucy Lange, Commissioner
Lange has more than 20 years of experience in business development and marketing. She has been at Manchester Media Group for more than five years and served as president since October 2023. She has worked in media her entire career, primarily in radio including serving as senior vice president of sales for NH for iHeartMedia for almost seven years and was vice president and general manager for Monadnock Broadcasting Group and Bratleboro Radio Group for a year before joining the leadership team at Manchester Radio Group. Before that she served as director of internet sales and new product development at the Union Leader Corporation.
Across the States: Developments to Know
Virginia Commits $14.5M Yearly for New Paid Internship Program (Virginia Business) InternshipsVA, a new statewide program to support paid internships, will provide grants for small and mid-sized employers that provide a 50% match for interns’ wages, as well as recruitment, program design, and training resources for participating employers. The state will provide $14.5 million a year to the program.
Promising State for AI Accelerator-Stage Companies (Excel Regional Solutions) Startups working with artificial intelligence in the accelerators or incubators stage are looking for locations across the country. Many likely are headed to California—but many other states not only have strong levels of activity but may feature better market fits for certain entrepreneurs. States like New York and Delaware are also strong for accelerators, while Minnesota has a strong number of startup resources supporting AI ventures. These indicators of recent performance are important: Is your region capturing its fair share of AI startup activity? Are your accelerator programs providing sufficient support to advance startups toward additional investment and successful exits?
Out of Sight, Out of Data – How Lack of Good Data on Rural Workforces Stymies Planning (Burning Glass) When rural work, learning, and mobility are invisible in data, communities are locked out of investment, planning, and opportunity. This analysis outlines practical ways to modernize workforce and education data so rural communities are better represented which allows better services. Solutions include designing data systems in partnership with rural communities, expanding who and what counts in existing datasets, and piloting next-generation tools that capture nonlinear work and learning pathways.