The Midwest Flourish

How do you rebuild trust, spark civic engagement, and make neighborhood planning actually work? Dan Baisden, Director of Fort Wayne’s Department of Neighborhoods, shares the city’s “embedded planning” approach—meeting residents on front porches, at coffee shops, and in grocery aisles to co-create small wins that add up. We talk civic vs. HOA associations, recruiting local champions, funding projects, public art’s real economic impact, and why social capital is the engine of workforce and community development.
 
Guest: Dan Baisden, Director, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Fort Wayne
Host: Rick Farrant, The Midwest Flourish
 
Highlighted Topics
- “Embedded planning” (front-porch conversations over top-down plans)
- Re-launching and sustaining neighborhood associations
- Trust-building: show up, listen first, deliver small wins - Funding beyond city grants (grants, donors, self-sufficiency)
- Public art & placemaking: measuring foot traffic and linger time
- Social capital as a bridge to jobs, safety, and quality of life 
Listen, share, and get involved: MarketingTheMidwest.com
#EconomicDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #Neighborhoods #FortWayne #Placemaking #ABCD #CivicEngagement #MidwestFlourish #podcast #midwest

In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Marie Mackintosh, President & CEO of EmployIndy, the largest nonprofit regional workforce development organization in Indiana. Marie shares how EmployIndy is redefining talent development vs. workforce development, bridging gaps in K–12 and postsecondary education, and creating experiential learning opportunities through its Talent Bound initiative—engaging thousands of students with internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing.
Highlighted Topics
- Why employers must view talent-building as a long-term strategy
- The Good Wages Initiative and how fair pay drives community growth
- Challenges in adult upskilling and building confidence for career changers
- Navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s environment
- How funding diversity makes EmployIndy a national model Whether you’re an employer, educator, or community leader, this conversation offers practical insights into building stronger talent pipelines and creating opportunities for all.
Learn more at MarketingTheMidwest.com
#MidwestFlourish #WorkforceDevelopment #TalentDevelopment #EmployIndy #EconomicDevelopment #GoodJobs #careerpathways #midwest #podcast #economicdevelopment #careerdevelopment #midwestflourish #workforcedevelopment #professionaldevelopment #indiana #midwest

Noble County, Indiana, ranks among the top counties in the nation for manufacturing concentration, but what happens when an economy depends too heavily on one sector? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant talks with Melanie Kellogg, Executive Director of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation (Be Noble), about how the county is:
- Growing entrepreneurial ecosystems through coworking spaces and mentorship
- Attracting medtech and other new industries to diversify the economy
- Expanding broadband access to support remote work and business growth
- Tackling housing shortages and childcare needs to strengthen workforce participation
- Investing in leadership development and small business support Melanie also shares the county’s vision for long-term growth and the challenges they face—like land access, community resistance, and infrastructure upgrades such as potable water and sewer expansion.
 
Learn more about empowering Midwest communities at MarketingTheMidwest.com

What if high school wasn't about tests and grades, but was about solving real problems, building businesses, and discovering your passion? In today's episode of The Midwest Flourish Podcast, Riley Johnson, director of the AMP Lab at Electric Works in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Rick Farrant to share how this innovative, entrepreneurial learning program is changing how students experience education and life in the workforce. Learn how the AMP Lab empowers students to explore careers, connect with local businesses, and gain real-world experience.
Highlighted Topics:
- AMP Lab Overview
- Entrepreneurial thinking for students
- Hands on, project based learning
- Community Partnerships
- Academic Success
- Life skills development

Can rural communities thrive again? Entrepreneur and economic development leader Eric Doden believes the answer is yes—and he’s proving it. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, Eric unpacks his innovative financial model that’s breathing new life into small towns across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. From Butler to Van Wert, his approach blends private equity, federal and state tax credits, and hyperlocal ownership structures to restore historic downtowns—one building (or 20) at a time.
 
Check out Paygo: https://www.youtube.com/@UCneqwptov8kwd1T71lw5usA
Highlighted Topics:
- Why restoring 100% of a town’s core assets is key
- How trust companies empower local control
- Why community pride is an essential metric
- How revitalized towns are attracting talent and reversing population decline
- What motivates Eric more than money—and whether he might return to politics If you care about rural revival, economic impact, or bold leadership in community development, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Are we treating childcare as essential infrastructure? When Allie Sutherland moved to Indiana, she had a great job and two young children—but no access to childcare. In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, Allie shares her personal struggle to find affordable, high-quality care and how that experience led her to become the Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition. Discover how one family’s challenge sparked a regional solution that's helping thousands. 6,600 parents in Northeast Indiana want to work—but can’t, due to lack of affordable childcare. Learn how initiatives like the Tri-Share Plus program and Hoosier Milestones Alliance are working to change that.
 
Highlighted Topics:
- The Childcare Access Crisis
- Childcare as Economic Infrastructure
- The Cost of Childcare - Defining Quality in Early Childhood Care
- Licensed vs. Unlicensed Childcare
- The Work Willing Parent Study
- The Tri-Share Plus Program
- The Hoosier Milestones Alliance
- Employer Involvement and Retention Challenges
- State-Level Funding and Policy Setbacks
 
#affordablechildcare #workforcedevelopment #podcast #economicdevelopment #childcare #earlychildhoodeducation #marketingthemidwest #midwest #childcarecosts #childcareservices #childcareprovider #affordable #themidwestflourish #northeastindiana #indiana #indianaeconomy #workforce #parents #parenting #parentworkforce #education #childhoodeducation

What does it really take to drive long-term growth in a community? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish Podcast, Ron Turpin—Chairman of the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission and Allen County Commissioner—joins host Rick Farrant to discuss the three key drivers of regional prosperity: population growth, wage growth, and credential attainment. Ron shares how Indiana’s only legislatively-backed regional strategic plan came together, and why collaboration will shape the region’s future.
Highlighted Topics:
- Where $30 million in state investment is going—and why
- How housing, infrastructure, and education fuel growth - Why degree and credential attainment is the “missing link” in workforce development
- How community-wide engagement (not just the usual voices) can turn vision into action If you're involved in regional development, economic strategy, or just care about where Northeast Indiana is headed, this conversation offers both context and a call to coordinated action.
Learn more or connect with us at: https://marketingthemidwest.com

Can we really bring manufacturing back to America and make it exciting for the next generation? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish Podcast, host Rick Farrant sits down with Terry M. Iverson, longtime machine tool executive, author, and founder of ChampionNow.org. Terry shares his vision for reshaping how Americans view careers in manufacturing.
Highlighted Topics:
- How ChampionNow and its “Camp CHAMP” model are inspiring students nationwide
- Why CNC machining is the next frontier for digital natives and gamers
- The case for debt-free education and lifelong learning in advanced manufacturing
- What it will take to truly revive Made in America and why it matters If you're an educator, parent, employer, or community leader who wants to see the Midwest thrive, this conversation is packed with insights, challenges, and actionable ideas.
 
Learn more or connect with us at: https://www.marketingthemidwest.com

What does it take to help a rural community grow in the face of population decline, aging demographics, and deep-rooted resistance to change? In this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Isaac Lee, Executive Director of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation, to talk candidly about what it means to lead economic strategy in a small Indiana county—and why he’s not willing to accept a future of stagnation. Isaac shares the bold, practical steps his team is taking to confront one of the region’s biggest challenges: a projected population drop of 4,500 people by 2050. From launching housing partnerships and expanding broadband access to educating elected officials on the cost of inaction, Isaac explains how rural economic developers must balance preservation with progress.
Highlighted Topics:
- Why retaining and expanding local businesses is more impactful than chasing new ones
- How shifting generational values are changing where people choose to live and work
- What public-private partnerships can do for affordable housing
- How Steuben County is leveraging its proximity to Michigan and Ohio
- What it's like to navigate the political landscape of rural Indiana
- Why economic development is a lot more like SimCity than you might think With clarity, realism, and a touch of humor, Isaac offers an inside look at the challenges—and opportunities—facing rural communities across the Midwest.
 
Learn more or connect with us at: https://www.marketingthemidwest.com

What does it take to succeed in a world where the job you’ll have tomorrow hasn’t even been invented yet? On this episode of The Midwest Flourish, host Rick Farrant sits down with Edmond O’Neal, President & CEO of Northeast Indiana Works, to unpack the fast-changing world of work—and how individuals, educators, and employers can better prepare for what’s ahead. In this wide-ranging conversation, Edmond shares smart, real-world insights on workforce trends, federal funding shifts, training access, transferable skills, and how communities can build pipelines for both youth and adults. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot or helping others find their path, this is a must-watch. Highlighted Topics:
What the new Stronger Workforce for America Act means for training
Why transferable skills and lifelong learning matter more than ever
How to break down barriers to workforce participation
The real story behind “talent pipelines” and workforce funding
Preparing for jobs that don’t exist (and why that’s not as scary as it sounds)
How to network before you need it
Edmond's advice is clear: Equip yourself with options, stay connected, and stay curious. Learn more at marketingthemidwest.com #FutureOfWork #TheMidwestFlourish #EdmondO'Neal #WorkforceDevelopment #LifelongLearning #CareerPathways #NortheastIndianaWorks #EconomicMobility #SkillsForTomorrow #RickFarrant #midwest