The Main Thing:

I recently spoke with the new leader of a significant economic development organization in the Midwest. She recognized the need to create a place where local businesses can thrive and grow.

This conversation made me think about what truly works in economic development. The post linked to this newsletter may provoke strong reactions, and many of you may disagree with what I have written. I want to assure you that I understand and respect your differing opinions.

This post describes the type of economic development that I am committed to in the future. It is organic and natural. That sounds like woo-woo to you, but give me a chance and read the entire post.

I am not just eager, but also very open to hear your thoughts on what I have proposed. Your feedback is crucial to this discussion.

Your thoughts are important to me. You can read the entire post here and I encourage you to share your feedback.
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Focus on City/Rural

​The Urge to Federalize — and Politicize — Every Local Disaster by Donald F. Kettl | Governing

A recent conversation with someone I respect slowly evolved or devolved, depending upon your point of view, into divergent views on politics, religion, and the news.

Many of the beliefs my friend expressed seemed to echo the memes and soundbites that saturate the internet. It became clear that his views were heavily influenced by unverified sources. I encouraged him, and by extension all of us, to approach information with a healthy dose of skepticism. We should question the credibility of what we see and hear, especially if it seems too outlandish or too good to be true.

As someone who spent much of their career in the public sphere or very close to it, I've seen how the simpllest of issues can become political fodder. I recognize that only some stories you hear are the whole story. There are things left out for various reasons, some worthy and some because the media outlet is trying to persuade its viewers or listeners.

I'm trying to describe a political discussion without describing a political debate.

It's like this story linked here. The urge to politicize natural disasters is not just unnecessary, it's also deeply saddening. What possible benefit does anyone get from this besides the thrill of defeating the opposition in some one-upmanship? We should all feel a sense of empathy and concern for the heartache and destruction caused by a natural disaster, rather than using it as a tool for political gain.

The pain and devastation caused by a natural disaster are already overwhelming. Adding a political dimension only complicates and further exacerbates the situation. We need to be aware of this dangerous trend and work towards mitigating it.

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​US develops portable device that extracts water from air using 50% less energy by Aman Tripathi | Interesting Engineering. --

In the early part of the last century, when cities were getting electrical service, rural areas were still without it. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 was passed to provide electricity to rural farms. It spawned the formation of electrical cooperatives that now number over 900.

However, in some parts of the world, people live without adequate electricity (some 770 million), and more live without water.

This article highlights Ohio State University researchers' breakthrough in water harvesting technology. They've developed a portable, energy-efficient prototype that uses nickel-titanium-based materials to extract drinking water from air. The device, small enough to fit in a backpack, uses electrocaloric cooling—a process where materials change temperature when stretched or compressed—and consumes half the energy of traditional dehumidifiers while producing the same amount of water.

The innovation is particularly significant as over 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water globally. Testing showed that the prototype outperformed conventional desiccant wheel systems in water extraction and energy efficiency during a 30-minute timeframe. The device's modular design allows it to adapt to different environmental conditions and humidity levels, making it suitable for water-scarce regions worldwide.
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​How US cities are investing in green infrastructure by Ysabelle Kempe | Smart Cities Dive --

This article discusses a new analysis of climate adaptation plans across U.S. communities by the Regional Plan Association (RPA). The study examined 54 plans and found that nature-based approaches to flood risk, such as ecological restoration and tree canopy expansion, dominate current adaptation strategies. This represents a shift from traditional infrastructure-focused solutions like sea walls.

The analysis revealed that while retreat and relocation strategies are less common, some innovative approaches, such as Houston's property swap program for at-risk areas, are emerging. The plans vary in funding sources, from federal grants to carbon credit programs, and differ in how they prioritize equity considerations. The report emphasizes the urgent need for a better understanding of nature-based solutions' costs and benefits. This understanding is crucial, particularly for those benefits that can't be easily quantified financially, as it will guide future climate adaptation planning.

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Circles of Seven

If you have ever considered my company's Circles of Seven Mentoring program, read the testimonial below.

You can learn more about Circles of Seven here.

Other Articles of Interest this week:

Leadership -- How 'Someday Syndrome' Is Holding You Back From Achieving Your Goals, According To A Psychologist by Sarah Sarkis, PsyD -- Here's why you should stop waiting for that perfect moment to arrive.

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Technology -- Confluence: The Intersection of AI and Communication by CRA Admired Leadership -- The importance of communicating AI strategy. Can someone create a chatbot version of you? A step toward hallucination-free generative AI. More evidence of LLMs taking work from freelancers.

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Economic Development -- It’s time to retire the ‘Rust Belt’ slur. They don’t call it the Great Lakes for nothing by Mark Phelan | Detroit Free Press -- The term’s implication of exhaustion and decay may have fit the Great Lakes and industrial Midwest in the 1970s and ‘80s. Today, the region is home to tech hubs, thriving cities, leading research universities, billions of dollars in tourism — and the 21st century’s most precious natural resource, 21% of the planet’s fresh water.

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Green Economy-- Column: The West should put its straws away. Great Lakes water is not for sale by Dan Pogorzelski | The Meadville Tribune -- The solution to the west’s water problems cannot be piping water from the Great Lakes, as scarce Colorado River and groundwater resources continue to be under stress.

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Mentoring-- How do you create a business mentoring program for your community? Mentoring can accelerate careers, businesses, and communities. What about a mentoring relationship between communities? Can one community accelerate the learning and success of another community?

Many communities conduct learning trips to other communities. When I worked in Indianapolis, we visited Nashville and took two large busloads of business leaders, community activists, and others. We visited business incubators and economic development projects and visited with their leadership.

If you want to develop a business mentoring program, I have created a Business Mentoring guide for communities. It provides a step-by-step plan for building a business mentoring structure in your community. It includes key concepts, different structures, and suggestions for key performance indicators.

If you want to learn more, you can download the guide by clicking on this link.

Something You Should Read:

This week, I am including a bonus blog post about one of my favorite topics: strategic foresight. The idea of non-linear thinking was first brought to my attention nearly thirty years ago at a seminar on manufacturing networks.

Non-linear thinking is the opposite of network thinking, to how everything is interconnected and things don't always happen in sequences, which is what our brain ikes to process.

Cutting to the chase, read my post about how we need to adopt new thinking methods when planning our economic development future and our thinking about our communities.

​Read more here. ​
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Overheard :

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”

Groucho Marx (American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, and television stars
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Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH, READ, View

In 2009, a couple of Mayors from the communities I served and I was in Washington, D.C., exercising our First Amendment right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." In other words, we were trying to get funding for a few projects. Our grievance was that the money we sent to Washington, D.C., as taxpayers, was not returning to our community at the rate we expected. So we politely asked.

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During that trip ( we went every year), someone I knew had recently obtained a job with the executive branch of the government, and he was willing to give us an after-hours tour of the West Wing. Standing in the doorway of the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, and the Roosevelt Room was a real thrill.

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Of course, folks can tour the White House and see the rest of the executive mansion, which it was first called. First Lady Jill Biden recently supervised a revamp of the White House tour, enriching it with interactive displays and other learning tools, a testament to her role as a teacher by training.

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It's what you would expect from a First Lady who is also a teacher by training. Next time I visit our nation's capital, I will definitely go on this tour. I encourage you to do the same. However, if you can't, here is a reporter's view of the tour. He is provided an early view of the rooms and interactive displays on the tour and shows a snippet of the ceremony, marking the opening of the new tour.

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Note: I would think that by now, smoking would not be allowed on the premises or grounds of a Federal building, especially the White House. See the video at about 1:18. This guy is not obviously following the rules.

Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH, Read, View

My favorite modern day philosopher, Ryan Holiday weighs in on politicians, bullies, outspoken professors and fake news in this video. . Using the platform of Stoicism, he lists some of the most popular newsmakers and discerns what is real and what is not.

This video might make some people angry, but I like Holiday because he always supports his statements with the foundation of Stoicism.

Take a look at this video and tell me what parts you agree with or disagree with. The comments are even more interesting. Check out the video here.

The world around us is a breathtaking spectacle waiting to be admired. When we take a moment to slow down and immerse ourselves in its beauty, we can begin to appreciate the intricate connections that every part of our universe shares. This realization should inspire us to spend more time preserving it.

It takes more than recycling our plastic bags to do that.

How do we cultivate an appreciation for the natural world? One effective way is to immerse ourselves in nature. The Japanese have a term for this: Forest Bathing. It's the act of venturing into the woods and allowing nature to envelop us, awakening our senses and fostering a deep connection with the environment.

If you can't get to the woods, appreciate the awesomeness of our natural world by looking at these photos and videos.

​This website is a treasure trove that offers a glimpse into our extraordinary world, inviting you to embark on a journey of discovery.

Thanks for Reading

If you liked this email, pay it forward. Share it with someone you think might benefit.

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Whenever you’re ready, there are several ways I can help you:

1. Economic Development: If you are looking to supercharge your economic development organization, I can help by strategizing and developing a roadmap to success. Set up a time to talk to me here.

2. Culture Change; Is your organization changing? Would you like to create an asset out of your culture? Do you know how to assess team strengths? Let me help you. I'm a certified culture change practitioner. Set up a time to talk to me here.

3. The Green Economy; The world is changing. Some of it is positive, and some of the change is not. Let me help you develop green economy opportunities for your community. Set up some time to talk about here.​

4. Mentoring Programs: Circles of Seven (C7) is a proven and award-winning model for mentoring. Whether it is for business or your community leadership program, I can develop a mentoring program for you. Let's talk about your situation. Set up a time here. ​

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.​

You can review my services and offerings at www.martinkarlconsulting.com​

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