Welcome to Curated Morning. A compendium of news, information, and stories that economic development professionals, community development leaders and elected officials read every week to stay in touch with what is happening in our economy.

The Main Thing:

Overwhelming Odds for Success

Like many of you, I've been told by those closest to me that I'm an all-or-nothing type of person. I used to believe that everything had to be done at once, or it wouldn't be done at all. It's a common misconception, and it's taken me years to come to this realization.

When I create this mental image of a task, I also create a sense of overwhelm. This mental image is often a grand, idealized version of the task, which can be daunting and unrealistic. This overwhelm is one of the drivers of procrastination, the topic of my current series of blog posts.

What happens when I do this? Frankly, I shut down and revert to watching YouTube videos of cats, cooking, and Canadian fishing trips. In other words, I put it off. I procrastinate.

Seriously, my problem isn't that bad, but it does rear its ugly head from time to time. I have learned to cope with overwhelm through various strategies, such as breaking tasks into smaller steps and setting realistic goals. I am sharing these strategies with you in this blog post.

So, whether it's that daunting analytical report for your boss, the kitchen remodel, the vegetable garden that will feed your whole family, or just sorting the junk drawer, the strategies I share in this post are practical and applicable to your situation. They will guide you towards overcoming procrastination.

​Read more here. ​

And Now a Word From our Sponsor: Me!

Fun fact: I wrote this entire pitch while in a flow state - it took 20 minutes instead of my usual two hours of overthinking. What is a "Flow State?" I write about it a lot, but defined, Flow is when you are doing your best and feel your best, you lose track of time, and you produce work beyond your perceived capability.

An athlete might refer to it as "being in the zone." We've all been there.

That's exactly what I want to share with my economic development colleagues. This isn't about reinventing how we do development - it's about optimizing your performance when those critical projects land on your desk.

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It's from June 9 to 13th. Each morning, you will receive an email that provides a short lesson and suggests an activity to try. It's easy, and it introduces you to something you know you ought to look into.

(And yes, I know 'flow states' might sound a bit squishy - trust me, your spreadsheets and site selectors will still respect you in the morning 😉)."

​Sign up here. It's FREE. ​

Focus On the Green Economy

Fee-asco: Federal EV Taxes Could Derail Local Clean Economy Efforts

​In The Tax Increase Tucked Into Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill by Lee Hedgepeth and Marianne Lavelle (Inside Climate News) we learn that President Trump's tax legislation, which recently passed the House and is being considered in the Senate has includes a provision that would slap new annual registration fees on electric and hybrid vehicles nationwide—$250 for EVs and $100 for hybrids. These federal fees would stack on top of existing state registration fees that 39 states already impose (ranging from $50 to $290), potentially creating a significant financial disincentive for the adoption of clean vehicles. Critics argue the approach discourages the very transition many communities are betting their economic futures on.

Why This Matters: Economic developers who've been courting EV manufacturers, battery plants, or charging infrastructure companies should pay close attention to this policy shift. These fees signal a federal retreat from clean transportation incentives that many communities have built development strategies around. For regions competing to attract automotive manufacturing or clean tech companies, the policy creates uncertainty about market demand and consumer adoption rates. The stacking of federal and state fees also affects workforce considerations, as employees who drive electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrids face higher transportation costs that could influence their location decisions.

Take Action: Review your economic development incentive packages for any commitments tied to clean vehicle adoption or manufacturing and assess potential impacts from reduced consumer demand. Engage with your state delegation and economic development networks to understand how the legislation might affect ongoing clean energy investments in your region. Consider developing contingency strategies for clean tech recruitment that account for policy volatility at the federal level.

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Power Surge: Solar Soars But Coal Crashes the Clean Energy Party

America's electricity landscape hit a fascinating inflection point in early 2025, with solar power exploding by 44% compared to the same quarter last year while wind added another 12% growth. The solar surge was so dramatic that it officially outproduced hydroelectric power for the first time when rooftop installations are included in the tally. But here's the plot twist: despite this renewable energy boom, coal use also spiked 23% as overall electricity demand jumped nearly 5%—the steepest increase in over a decade. The culprits driving this unexpected surge in demand? Data centers and the ongoing electrification of everything from cars to appliances are creating a scenario where clean energy growth is racing against an even faster-growing appetite for power. All this according to the article, US solar keeps surging, generating more power than hydro in 2025 by John Timmer (ars Technica).

Why This Matters: Economic developers need to recognize that the era of flat electricity demand is officially over, creating both unprecedented opportunities and infrastructure challenges. Communities positioned to support data center development—the primary driver of this demand surge—should prepare for major utility conversations about grid capacity and power reliability. The fact that solar is now cost-competitive without subsidies means that regions with strong solar resources have a genuine competitive advantage for energy-intensive industries, even as federal policy shifts. However, the coal resurgence also signals that regions without adequate clean energy infrastructure may face sustainability challenges when courting businesses with environmental commitments.

Take Action: Immediately assess your region's electrical grid capacity and work with local utilities to understand their plans for meeting growing demand from potential data center and manufacturing developments. Develop partnerships with renewable energy developers to explore utility-scale projects that could support significant industrial recruitment efforts. Initiate conversations with existing businesses about their electricity demand projections to anticipate future grid needs and identify potential investment opportunities.

Note: If you are concerned about climate, the green economy, and how it all works in a chaotic world today, there are ways to start the conversation locally. A FREE resource is the Five-Step Climate Change Opportunity Plan. It’s a free resource for economic developers and community leaders that you can access here.

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Storm Warning: Global Risk Report Signals Turbulent Decade Ahead for Economic Development

​The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2025 paints a sobering picture of our interconnected world, with over 900 global experts delivering their most pessimistic outlook since the Cold War era. State-based armed conflict has rocketed to the #1 immediate risk, while misinformation and disinformation top the two-year outlook for the second consecutive year. The report reveals that 62% of experts expect "stormy or turbulent times" over the next decade, driven by deepening geopolitical tensions, growing societal fragmentation, and environmental risks that are deteriorating at a faster rate than any other category. Perhaps most concerning for economic planners, inequality has emerged as the most interconnected risk of all, simultaneously triggering and amplifying nearly every other global challenge, from political polarization to climate impacts.

Why This Matters: Economic developers operate in an increasingly volatile global environment where traditional assumptions about stability, supply chains, and international cooperation may no longer hold. The report's emphasis on societal polarization and inequality as central risks suggests that communities with strong social cohesion and inclusive economic opportunities will have competitive advantages in attracting and retaining businesses. The rise of a "multipolar or fragmented" global order—expected by 64% of experts—means that economic development strategies tied to specific international partnerships or trade relationships face heightened uncertainty. Meanwhile, the dramatic worsening of environmental risks over the 10-year horizon signals that climate resilience will become essential infrastructure, not optional planning.

Take Action: Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of your community's vulnerabilities across the report's key categories—geopolitical exposure, social cohesion, environmental resilience, and technological preparedness. Develop economic development messaging that emphasizes your region's stability, social capital, and community resilience as competitive advantages in an uncertain world. Create contingency plans for supply chain disruptions and explore opportunities to promote regional economic integration as a hedge against global fragmentation. Invest in climate adaptation infrastructure and market your community's environmental resilience to businesses concerned about long-term operational stability.

Other Articles of Interest this week:

Leadership -- The Perfect Purpose Statement Is Inspiring … and Credible by Anne Chow | Kellog Insight -- In an excerpt from her new book, Lead Bigger, former AT&T Business CEO Anne Chow explains the power of defining your company’s “why.”

Technology -- Airbnb’s plan to be the ‘everything store’ for services by Louisa Clarence-Smith | The Times -- Nathan Blecharczyk says the company aims to offer hundreds of services, from chefs to personal training, generating $90 billion in customer payments last year

AI -- AI could make us more productive, can it also make us better paid? By John Letzing | World Economic Forum -- If you want to know whether AI will diminish what people are paid relative to what they produce in a typical workday, you can ask AI.

Yes, ChatGPT recently informed me in typically bloodless prose, “this outcome is highly likely.” But it’s also, so I was told, “not inevitable.”

Economic Development -- Due Diligence Done Right: The Role Of An Experienced Brownfield Redevelopment Consultant by Julia Troy, Studio B Editor | BISNOW -- Zoning laws, land use regulations, rising land costs — these are just some of the reasons why developers struggle to pencil deals where they can bring their projects to life. As a result, they are increasingly turning to brownfields, previously developed industrial and commercial properties contaminated by pollutants, hoping to transform these underutilized sites into thriving developments.

​Novartis Reveals $23B Plan To Boost U.S. Research And Manufacturing Presence by Matt Wasielewski, National | BISNOW -- Novartis plans to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint to give the Swiss pharmaceutical giant the ability to produce more drugs for American consumers entirely inside the country.

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​Mentoring-- Coaching and mentoring: Investing in the growth of others | ChannelEye -- Coaching and mentoring are essential for creating a thriving workplace where employees feel valued and motivated to reach their full potential. Coaching and mentoring are two very different practices, yet they are intrinsically linked by the fundamental aim, which is to help someone to grow.

Something You Should Read:

Are you intrigued by the ever-changing Tariff drama? Tariffs are being implemented, then reduced in some cases, often just days after they are implemented, and seemingly on a whim. It's a rollercoaster of economic policy that keeps us all on our toes.

Tangle is a thought-provoking newsletter and news source that offers a spectrum of viewpoints on various subjects impacting our lives today. The editor of Tangle takes a topic each day, reports on how the “Left” side of the political spectrum sees the issue, and then describes the “Right’s” take on the issue. Then he weighs in on how he feels about it, fostering a culture of open-mindedness and receptivity.

The linked post discusses the recent and significant ruling by the United States Court of International Trade (CIT), which has blocked most of the tariffs imposed through executive order by President Trump. This ruling is a crucial development in the ongoing tariff.

You can receive the free newsletter and read Tangles’ daily take on the news. It is fascinating to read both sides of a news story and see how it is being perceived and then communicated to the respective audiences.

​Read the Tangle take on Tariffs here.​

Overheard:

Smoot and Hawley ginned up The Tariff Act of 1930 to get America back to work after the Stock Market Crash of '29. Instead, it destroyed trade so effectively that by 1932, American exports to Europe were just a third of what they had been in 1929. World trade fell two-thirds as other nations retaliated. Jobs evaporated.

-- Elaine Chao

The Rabbit Hole:

A Clubby Cocktail

It's summer, and it would be a good time to sit under a tree and have a summer cocktail. If you can find a Calabash tree, that would be even better. Sitting under one of these trees will inspire you to develop a rum-oriented cocktail.

It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as the Bermuda Yacht Club. A group of Englishmen, including sailors and officers, found themselves celebrating their success. And what better way to mark an achievement than with a unique drink? Thus, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club cocktail was born, distinct from the club itself.

Anyway, it does look tasty. Mix one up this summer and find yourself a tree; it doesn't have to be a Calabash tree, and enjoy!

​You can find the recipe here. ​
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Writing a Wrong

My mother had the most beautiful cursive handwriting. She's no longer with us, but I can still see her elegant penmanship in the letters she used to write to relatives and friends. It's a fond memory from a time when writing notes was a cherished tradition.

Over the years, when I would see someone's handwriting, and if they had grown up in Europe, their handwriting was distinctive, not unlike my Mothers. The way they taught cursive in most of Europe is different than the way they taught it here.

I transitioned to block printing in high school after taking a drafting class. I learned how to print in block letters quickly and have used it ever since. Can I write in cursive? Yes, but it isn't pretty.

But the art of penmanship and cursive writing is at risk of becoming a relic of the past. In the article, Why Cursive Writing and Penmanship Is Important by Jennifer A. Freeman (Word Smarts), we look at the reasons why preserving cursive writing is still crucial.

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Small Town Lists

Have you ever heard someone say, "You couldn't pay me to live there!" Of course, we all know this means that they don't think highly of the locals. I have a list of places that would qualify. They include places like… Do you really think I would list those places here and lose subscribers? No way.

Of course, there are cities across the United States that have begun offering cash incentives to encourage people to live in their communities. Tulsa, Oklahoma, is among the more well-known cities. They offer a $10,000 grant for buying a home in Tulsa, and so far, over 2,100 people have taken advantage of the offer.

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But there's more to these offers than just cash. Smaller towns like Newton, Iowa, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, have their own unique charm and are offering attractive incentives to get you to move. The article 6 Small U.S. Towns That Will Pay You To Move There by Julia Hammond in Daily Passport will fill you in on the details.

Pack your boxes and get ready to take advantage of these small-town-inspired offers.
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With over three decades of experience in economic development, public administration, and small business, I can now bring my expertise to benefit you. What are the issues facing your community? What obstacles are you facing in growing your business? Let's work on this together.

While I am experienced in a wide variety of sectors and issues, here is where my interests lie, and thus where I can benefit you most:

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If you have any thoughts or comments regarding any articles in this newsletter please feel free to contact me through email at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com.​

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