Your Curated Morning (#213) for October 23, 2025 is here!
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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:In December 2022, I attended a week-long seminar called “Entrepreneurship at Any Age.” It was held on the campus of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) in Baja Mexico. It was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I was at a transition point in my life, having left a long-term relationship and a job. I was intent on going out on my own, and this seminar seemed like the right seminar at the right time. MEA and all the programs and teaching that emanate from it are the brainchild of Chip Conley, who I consider a Mentor at this point. You can read about his journey in several books he has written; however, for this week's post, the book Wisdom@Work is key. The seminar (and I have a hard time calling it that, because it was profoundly more) was co-taught by Blake MyCoskie, Founder of Toms’ Shoes, along with Conley. Mycoskie is the pioneer in ‘buy-one, give-one' capitalism. Other entrepreneurs, young and old, surrounded me. I learned a lot, most importantly that I should never stop learning or asking questions. The other thing I learned was that some of the lessons will come from those younger than me. It is the essence of the MEA experience and the book. It is also the inspiration for one of the most essential ideas in my recent series on being kind to our future. Read Intergenerational Dialogue: The Wisdom Exchange We're Not Having, this week's post. The Following is for New Leaders:This January, I'm once again bringing together thoughtful professionals for the next Cohort of the Next Wave Leadership Mastermind. This isn't about replacing traditional training - it's about elevating it to meet today's challenges and elevating the leadership soft skills to a new level. Phil Santer, the COO of Ann Arbor Spark and a recent graduate, said of the program: "It’s easy in our work to get caught up working in the day-to-day and forget to spend time working on the bigger picture. Next Wave was a great way to create structured time throughout the year to step back, reflect, and explore some out-of-the-box ideas that directly apply to economic development.
It was also a valuable space to work through challenges with peers from across the country. I learned a lot and built meaningful relationships through the program."
For nine transformative months, economic development professionals will:
If this type of intensive leadership development isn't for you at this time, consider sharing it with team members who are ready to accelerate their growth. For those ready to dive in, here's what you'll get:
I'm offering an early-bird rate of $695 to those who commit to this Cohort (Regular price: $995). Special rate expires October 31, so act quickly!
Focus On The Green EconomyWhen Washington Pulls the Plug: $7.6 Billion in Clean Energy Funding Vanishes Overnight The U.S. Department of Energy has abruptly terminated nearly $7.6 billion in funding for 223 clean energy projects across 16 states, targeting initiatives ranging from hydrogen hubs in California and the Pacific Northwest to grid resilience upgrades and methane reduction programs. The cuts will trigger immediate job losses and work stoppages, while potentially leading to higher energy costs and reduced grid reliability, according to former EPA officials and state energy offices. Colorado alone stands to lose over $500 million across 30+ grants, while Illinois faces $280 million in cuts, and California's hydrogen hub will forfeit $1.2 billion in federal support. Why This Matters: This funding termination creates both immediate challenges and strategic opportunities for economic developers. Communities that had built recruitment strategies around federally-funded clean energy infrastructure must now reassess their competitive positioning, while those that pursued private-sector or state-funded energy projects may find themselves with unexpected advantages. Economic developers must also prepare for potential ripple effects: displaced workers from terminated projects may create unexpected talent pools, while companies involved in cancelled initiatives might seek alternative locations or partnerships. Take Action: Immediately inventory any clean energy projects in your region dependent on federal funding and develop contingency plans with project sponsors to explore state, private, or alternative financing sources. Reach out to companies affected by cancelled projects in other states to position your community as a potential relocation option, emphasizing state-level incentives and energy policies that provide more stability. Engage with state legislators to strengthen state-level clean energy funding mechanisms that can provide more consistent support regardless of federal political shifts. Read Communities brace for fallout as DOE terminates nearly $7.6B in clean energy project funding by Robyn Griggs Lawrence | SmartCitiesDive Where Parks Meet Paychecks: How Public Spaces Became Climate Infrastructure Cities from Philadelphia to Singapore are discovering that their parks, trails, and community centers aren't just recreational amenities—they're powerful climate adaptation tools that deliver measurable environmental and economic returns. Philadelphia's Discovery Center transformed a fenced-off 50-acre reservoir into a free community asset that teaches conservation while providing recreation, while the city's broader rewilding initiative is replacing routine mowing with native meadows that boost biodiversity and slash maintenance costs. New Orleans' Lafitte Greenway proves that former rail corridors can manage stormwater, reduce urban heat, and host farmers markets and festivals simultaneously. Perhaps most striking is Singapore's Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, where engineers replaced a concrete canal with bioengineered riverbanks that increased stormwater capacity by 40% and biodiversity by 30%—all while creating the kind of gathering spaces that help communities weather both literal and economic storms. Why This Matters: Economic developers often treat environmental sustainability and economic growth as competing priorities, but these projects reveal they're increasingly inseparable. Companies evaluating relocation decisions now scrutinize climate resilience infrastructure, and talented workers—especially younger professionals—actively seek communities with robust green spaces and environmental commitments. Research from post-Katrina New Orleans demonstrates that socially connected communities recover faster from disasters, meaning that investments in civic commons directly protect your community's economic continuity. These projects also address a practical budget reality: green infrastructure often costs less to maintain than traditional gray infrastructure while delivering multiple co-benefits including reduced energy costs, improved public health outcomes, and increased property values. Communities that understand public spaces as economic infrastructure rather than discretionary spending will build more resilient local economies. Take Action: Commission a climate vulnerability assessment that identifies explicitly how existing and planned public spaces could serve as adaptation infrastructure, then prioritize projects that address both environmental and equity gaps. Partner with local environmental organizations, universities, and conservation groups to identify underutilized public assets—abandoned rail corridors, closed reservoirs, neglected parks—that could be transformed into multi-benefit civic infrastructure. Establish a cross-organizational team that includes economic development, public works, parks, and planning to ensure climate-resilient public spaces are central to your community's growth strategy rather than an afterthought. Read Resilient Cities in Action, in Progress by Reimagining the Civic Commons Green Gold Rush: How Your Community Can Claim Its Share of the $11 Trillion Climate Economy The green economy isn't coming—it's here, and it's already worth $2 trillion globally across four booming sectors: critical minerals, green tech manufacturing, green industrial materials, and green services. Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) latest analysis reveals this figure could explode to $11 trillion by 2040, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity for communities willing to position themselves strategically. From Indonesia's nickel refining boom (jumping from 16% to 41% global market share in just four years) to Thailand's aggressive push to become Southeast Asia's EV manufacturing hub, countries and regions are already staking their claims in this economic transformation. The winners won't necessarily be traditional economic powerhouses—they'll be the communities that recognize their unique green advantages and move decisively to capitalize on them. Why This Matters: This green transition represents the most significant economic reshuffling since the industrial revolution, and it's happening right now in your backyard—if you know where to look. Economic developers no longer need to chase the same old manufacturing or tech sectors; instead, communities with abandoned industrial sites could become green steel production hubs, regions with steady winds could manufacture turbine components, and areas with strong financial sectors could become green finance centers. Your community's "disadvantages" might actually be hidden green advantages: cheap land for solar farms, proximity to critical mineral deposits, or existing manufacturing expertise that could pivot to heat pumps or batteries. Take Action: Conduct a green economy asset inventory of your region, cataloging not just renewable energy potential but also existing industrial capabilities that could transition to green alternatives, proximity to critical mineral deposits, and workforce skills that translate to green sectors. Create "Green Transition Zones" with expedited permitting, infrastructure investments, and tax incentives specifically designed for companies making green industrial materials or manufacturing green tech. Establish partnerships with countries or regions that complement your green economy strengths—if you have the manufacturing capability but lack critical minerals, forge direct relationships with mining regions. Launch a green industrial recruitment campaign targeting companies in traditional industries looking to establish green production facilities, emphasizing your region's specific advantages for their green transition. Commission a study to identify which of the four major green opportunity areas best aligns with your existing economic base and develop a focused 10-year strategy to capture market share in that specific sector. Read Economic Growth Opportunities in a Greening World by Sek-loong Tan, Jim Minifie, Edmond Rhys Jones, Christopher Daniel, and Aparna Bharadwaj | BCG Other Articles of Interest this week:Leadership -- 5 Life Lessons From Albert Einstein by History Facts -- Most people know Albert Einstein as the face of genius, but there was much more to this famous figure than his groundbreaking work in physics. Technology -- Commonwealth Fusion Systems books a $1B+ power deal for its future fusion reactor by Tim De Chant | TechCrunch AI -- How people are using ChatGPT -- A Report by OpenAI Economic Development -- Los Alamos and University of Michigan want to build a national security ‘data center’ in Ypsilanti. Residents and local officials see few benefits by Tom Perkins, Inside Climate News | RouteFifty Something You Should Read:My parents immigrated to the United States after WWII. I have written about this many times in this newsletter, so if you are a regular reader, you should be familiar with the story. They were "displaced," the word used to refer to the hundreds of thousands of people who were not living in the country of their birth at the end of the war. My mother's family lived in a "displaced persons" camp in Hannau, Germany, in the American Zone. My Father was in the Northern part of occupied Germany, in the British Zone. Each of them came to the United States via an act of Congress, the "Displaced Persons Act of 1950." They were resettled by separate families near each other in Michigan, where they eventually met. There is much more to their stories, but these are basic facts. Chief among these facts is that it took an act of Congress to allow them to immigrate to the United States. Let me say that again: An Act of Congress. Depending upon your political and cultural background and beliefs, you likely have views about immigration, legal or otherwise. My viewpoint is that the only crisis regarding immigration is Congress's lack of action. If they passed legislation reflecting the rank-and-file countries' views on immigration, we would not have a 'crisis.' The crisis is our own doing. Overheard:Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Lao Tzu The Rabbit Hole:Hydration Clarified like Water My chiropractor tells me that I should drink more water. I told her I drink about two or three glasses of water a day, plus a couple of cups of coffee. She said that wasn't enough. When I got back to the office, I found this article. It explains how much water a person should drink. The idea that you should drink eight to ten glasses of water is pretty close to being accurate. It also turns out that the science behind this is nonexistent. However, other studies have confirmed the value of drinking about that amount of water. At the co-working space I work at, there's a Water machine that provides Filtered water. Over the past couple of weeks, I've used that filtered water dispenser and have come close to drinking the amount of water that I should be drinking. This water will lubricate my arthritic joints and relieve my sciatica pain. This article, How Much Water Should You Drink Daily? Science-Backed Hydration Guide by Dann Albright, CSCS, in Super Age provides all the information you need to become a hydration intake expert. Friends for Life My sister likes watching reruns of the show Friends. Whenever I am in the room with her, I have to keep asking her about the plotlines, who is married to whom, and who is dating whom. I am always surprised by the number of cameo appearances by prominent Hollywood actors on the show. However, 'friends', not Friends, is the subject of this section. Are you a friend maker? Do you have a bunch of friends or just a few? I fall in the 'just a few close ones' category. Although I know a lot of people across the USA from my past career and work, I couldn't call all of them friends… let's call them acquaintances. When my Mom passed, her cognitive abilities had declined precipitously over the last several years of her life. I noticed this occurred when her social support structure had diminished. Her friends at the gym where she liked to work out well into her eighties had all moved or had slowly passed away one by one, and her close group of local friends from the 'old country' (Latvia) were also moving on. Pretty soon, it was down to a few people. (BTW: She loved watching Friends) Socialization is considered an essential part of a fulfilling life in your golden years, and she was living proof of that. So go out and make some friends. Whether you are young or old, keeping and maintaining friendships is crucial to longevity and mental acuity. Read this article. Want more friends? A better social life? Be like my 85-year-old buddy Gerry, by Stephen Marche in the Guardian, to learn more about friend-making and its importance. The recent trend to polarize everything in our world extends to Science. However, you can't really polarize Science. By its nature, it can't be black or white, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat. Science is the ongoing inquiry and questioning of ideas and hypotheses, with the results almost always defined and confined within the context of natural laws. For example, there cannot be a conservative or liberal approach to the laws of gravity. Or, the behavior of organisms when subjected to various environmental factors, such as heat or cold. We can only observe and generate conclusions from that activity. This leads to a discussion of a rat. More specifically, the famous Chicago sidewalk rat imprint that became an internet sensation is better known as "splatatouille." Researchers did some sleuthing and determined that the rat was actually a squirrel. Using a wide range of scientific methods, the "splot" where the mammal landed was wet cement, which would have been created during the day, and squirrels are more active during the day. The squirrel likely fell from a nearby tree to its untimely demise. What is impressive is that the journal Science thought to publish the story, as we know it's legit and not likely a liberal or conservative effort to label Chicago as anything other than a place where humans and squirrels alike need to watch out for wet cement. If you know someone who might enjoy this newsletter, please feel free to share it with them. If someone forwarded this to you and you would like to subscribe, click below. All the cool people are doing it!
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:
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 |