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:

If I haven't already confessed here, I want to remind you that I have mastered the art of procrastination. Over the past five weeks, I've shared insights on the five drivers of procrastination, which have been a part of my life for a long time. These include fear, perfectionism, overwhelm, lack of motivation, and an 'all-or-nothing' mindset. However, I have learned to overcome many of them and manage my procrastination effectively. The relief that comes with this achievement is genuinely uplifting.

This last driver is my favorite and dear to my heart. I have learned that my procrastination is often linked to my 'all-or-nothing' mindset towards projects and tasks. However, I have dedicated myself to tackling the big tasks in smaller chunks, and over time, they don't seem so overwhelming. The joy of seeing these smaller chunks come together to form a completed project is truly inspiring and I hope it inspires you too.

Take this newsletter, for example. When I first started writing this almost four years ago, I would worry and fret, holding off until Wednesday to write and finish it. Today, I spend about thirty to sixty minutes a day on it, and it gets done well before my deadline, leaving the rest of the week available for me to work on other tasks. The satisfaction of finishing tasks early is a great motivator.

The last part of the series is available for you to read by clicking here. I urge you not to put it off; it will be worth your time and effort.

Here is the Uncomfortable Truth in Economic Development:

Your community's next 100 jobs are sitting in existing businesses. But you'll spend thousands of dollars chasing that 'game-changing' prospect instead. You will attend Site Location confabs, and in the end, you may receive one or two inquiries, but no earth-shattering projects

I’ve been in your shoes. I felt the pressure to ‘attract’ business too, and was as frustrated as you were with the success rate (read: low if not non-existent). It wasn’t my sales pitch or material; I spent big $$’s with consultants to create it.

It’s not good enough to try. Your community needs jobs and capital investment..

Here's what I'v found in communities:

• 60% to 70% of new jobs came from local business expansions

• Local businesses reinvested 3x more into the community

• Retention costs were a fraction of attraction costs

Ready to stop playing corporate lottery with your precious investors' dollars?

Then check out the Circles of Seven (C7) Community Partners program. We kick off in September, so it's time to get on board now. We are accepting no more than ten communities in the program.

C7 helps communities build sustainable growth from within.

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​Schedule a call with me here, or reach out to me via email and let’s talk.

Focus On Technology

Quantum Leap Forward: New Breakthrough Makes Distributed Quantum Computing a Reality

Scientists in the U.K. have successfully connected two separate quantum processors using standard fiber optic cables, marking a major milestone toward building quantum supercomputers and a quantum internet. The article, Building quantum supercomputers: Scientists connect two quantum processors using existing fiber optic cables for the first time (by Peter Ray Allison, LiveScience) describes how scientists have been able to show how instead of trying to cram millions of fragile quantum bits into a single massive machine, they could get smaller quantum processors to work together across distances, sharing computational tasks through quantum entanglement. Think of it as the quantum internet. The breakthrough used the same fiber optic infrastructure that already powers today's internet, proving that distributed quantum computing networks are feasible with current technology.

Why This Matters: This development signals that quantum computing infrastructure won't be limited to a handful of tech giants in major metropolitan areas. The ability to network quantum processors using existing fiber optic cables means smaller communities with robust broadband infrastructure could potentially host nodes in future quantum networks. Unlike traditional data centers that require enormous facilities, distributed quantum computing could create opportunities for communities to participate in the quantum economy through smaller, specialized facilities.

Take Action: Audit your region's fiber optic infrastructure capacity and identify any planned expansions that could support quantum networking requirements. Engage with regional universities and community colleges to explore quantum technology education programs and workforce development initiatives, and research which companies in your area manufacture precision instruments, specialized materials, or components that could serve the quantum computing supply chain.

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Weather the Storm: How Budget Cuts Are Creating Opportunities for Local Weather Tech Partnerships

As National Weather Service budget cuts leave communities with reduced forecasting coverage and overworked meteorologists, local emergency managers are turning to private weather technology companies to fill critical gaps in storm tracking and early warning systems. Companies like Climavision are building networks of low-level radars to detect weather phenomena that federal systems miss, while firms like Meteomatics offer hyperlocal forecasting using drones, AI models, and data from over 110 sources. These public-private partnerships aren't replacing government weather services—they're enhancing them with real-time, actionable data that can mean the difference between adequate warning time and disaster. You can read more in AI, drones, private radar fill gaps from National Weather Service cuts (Robyn Griggs Lawrence, SmartCitiesDive).

Why This Matters: This shift represents a significant economic development opportunity disguised as a public safety challenge. Weather technology companies need local partners to deploy their radar networks, testing facilities, and data collection infrastructure, creating potential attraction opportunities for communities. More importantly, superior weather monitoring and emergency preparedness capabilities are becoming competitive advantages for economic development, as businesses increasingly factor climate resilience into location decisions.

Take Action: Reach out to weather technology companies to explore hosting radar installations or data collection equipment that could enhance your community's weather monitoring capabilities while potentially attracting these companies as employers. Partner with your emergency management office to assess current weather monitoring gaps and develop a strategy for integrating private sector solutions to address these gaps.

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Robot Delivery Revolution: Amazon's Humanoid Helpers Could Transform Last-Mile Logistics

Amazon is developing humanoid robots that could "spring out" of delivery vans to drop off packages, building a "humanoid park" testing facility in San Francisco to perfect the technology. In the article, Amazon's testing of humanoid robots to deliver packages (Dan Milmo, The Guardian), we learn about how robots would work alongside human drivers, potentially speeding up deliveries by allowing one person to cover multiple addresses simultaneously while their robotic partner handles nearby deliveries. Amazon already uses over 20,000 Rivian electric vans and has placed one in their testing zone, with plans to take the robots on real-world "field trips" once indoor trials are complete.

Why This Matters: This development signals a major shift in logistics employment and infrastructure needs that economic developers must anticipate. While automation could displace some traditional delivery jobs, it creates new opportunities in robotics manufacturing, maintenance, software development, and testing facilities.

Take Action: Assess your region's delivery and logistics workforce to identify retraining needs and develop partnerships with community colleges for robotics technician programs. Reach out to robotics companies and research institutions to explore the possibility of hosting testing facilities or R&D operations in your community. Develop messaging that highlights your community's tech-forward approach and skilled workforce capabilities to attract companies building the next generation of delivery automation.

Other Articles of Interest this week:

AI -- When Put to the Test, Are We Any Good at Spotting AI Fakes? By Matthew Groh | Kellogg Insight -- With AI-generated images on the rise, it’s becoming increasingly important for people to be able to spot them. But just how good are we at doing so? Research led by Kellogg’s Matthew Groh, a deepfake expert, found that people were able to distinguish between real and fake images in about five out of every six images they saw.

Economic Development -- Political Storm Brews For Data Centers As States Propose Tougher Rules by Dan Rabb, Data Centers | BISNOW -- Data center developers and industry groups are scrambling to respond to a sudden surge in policy proposals targeting the industry in a growing number of U.S. states.

Green Economy -- Carbon capture hits a growth spurt as financial and other factors align by Jim Giles | Trellis -- Air Products and Microsoft are among the firms driving the growth of point-source capture and sequestration, even as criticisms of the technology linger.

Leadership -- Why you need a personal brand in a crowded job market by Anna Burgess Yang | Fast Company -- It can help you stand out before you even apply.

Mentoring-- The secret to successful mentorship? Knowing when to end it by Eleanor Kaye | People Management -- Eleanor Kaye discusses what happens when a mentor-mentee relationship has run its course and goals have been achieved.

Something You Should Read:

Once again, I urge you to read the report generated by Diane Swonk, Chief Economist, and

Managing Director of KPMG Economics. Her analysis of the economy is always clear and highly informative.

Rather than providing a summary here, I suggest you visit the link and read her analysis.

Overheard:

“Live or die, but don’t poison everything.”​

--- Saul Bellow
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The Rabbit Hole:

Power Where It's Needed

When I was a kid, my family embarked on a road trip, with a memorable stop at the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls. This natural wonder, part of our longer journey to New York City, left an indelible mark on me. As I matured into adulthood and my professional life, I found myself drawn to topics such as infrastructure and its associated issues. It was fascinating to learn that the Falls, a sight of such natural beauty, generate over 2.6 million kilowatts of electricity a year via the Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station.

While the waterfall itself isn’t the producer of power, the topography of the area lends itself well to massive hydropower. Paired with the Canadian version, Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations along the Niagara River, the total output of power ranges from 4 million kilowatt-hours per day.

Ever wondered how ships navigate from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie and vice versa, given the formidable obstacle of the Falls? The answer lies in the Welland Canal, a marvel of engineering in its fourth iteration. This canal provides a safe passage for ships into the Great Lakes and eventually the St. Lawrence Seaway.

While Niagara didn’t make the list of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls in the world, it certainly makes the list for human ingenuity and innovation. Check out the article here.​

Old Shows, New Facts

Each year, usually in late summer or early fall, one of the three television networks available to us (ABC, CBS, and NBC) would have an hour-long show highlighting their new Fall lineup. On that program, they highlighted the news, hows, and changes to existing shows.

It was an exciting night, and we gathered around the TV, sharing the anticipation of which of our favorite shows would continue and what new shows would premiere.

I'm not kidding; we really did that. In the 1960s and 1970s, television was the entertainment tool of the day in America. You were judged by how many television sets you had and whether you had at least one 'color' TV. It's fascinating to think that current generations probably can't even conceive that we had televisions without 'color.'

That's what makes this linked article interesting. In it, we learn 'fun facts' for a variety of television series, from I Love Lucy to Seinfeld. One interesting fact, which I already knew based on my deep connection with Seinfeld, is that Jerry and George open the series and close the series with the same conversation about shirt buttons.

To read the article and learn more about the behind-the-scenes facts about old television shows, such as the one about Jerry and George's conversation in Seinfeld, go here.​

Slower is Better

I once had an employee who was afraid to fly. I didn't know it when I hired him, but I only found out when I wanted to send him to the East Coast for a training class. Instead of flying, he drove six hours to the training site. He didn't have to worry about canceled flights or other delays, but of course, there were other hazards and risks.

Was he a careful driver? Did he exceed the speed limit? I know I do when I am driving on the interstate. Seventy miles per hour is too slow, right?

However, there is an adage, "Speed Kills," and this recent video by Justine Underhill, a journalist and City Council Member in Falls Church, Virginia, shows why speed limits are, frankly, useless. If you want to slow traffic down, especially in urban areas, road design is more important than speed limits or enforcement by humans, or now, cameras and technology.

Are you exceeding the speed limit? After watching this video, consider taking a moment to slow down. The likelihood of getting a ticket is less, and it’s simply courteous. As the video describes, you are only saving a few minutes by rushing.

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Let's work together!

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:

1. Organizational and Leadership Development -- Culture assessment, culture shifts, board and leadership development, mentoring, coaching, strategic planning, innovation, economic development education, and strategic foresight. Click here to schedule a conversation about how we can collaborate on this topic.
2. Small Business Ecosystems -- Start-up environment assessments and benchmarking, scaled peer-to-peer mentoring systems (C7), Incubation, and small business ecosystems design. Click here to schedule a conversation about how we can collaborate on this topic.
3. Personal Transformation -- Transformative personal coaching, training, and education in high-level productivity concepts of Flow, Grit, Resiliency, and leadership. Additionally, leadership masterminds cater to both new leaders and wise elders. Click here to schedule a conversation about how we can collaborate on this topic.

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​