Verified vs. Estimated vs. Unknown: A Simple Confidence Labeling System for Public-Facing Data
Someone emails your office. Or tags your organization on Facebook. Or replies-all to a PDF you published.
Posts by Dane Carlson
2026-Ready Economic Development
The year ahead will reward teams that move fast, collaborate well, and show up with clean data. Here is a simple readiness checklist to carry...
What 500+ Demos Taught Us About Economic Development Data
After 500+ demos with communities of every size, a few themes show up every time. The tools and workflows that win projects are the ones...
Dane Carlson on the Rural Strong Podcast: AI, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development
I recently joined Joe Barker on the Rural Strong Podcast to talk about Sitehunt, entrepreneurship, and how AI helps rural and small‑community EDOs compete at...
Podcast 196: AI and the Future of Economic Development with Dane Carlson
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, I share my talk from the Utility Economic Development Association’s 2025 Fall Forum in Traverse City, Michigan....
How Sitehunt Complements (Not Replaces) Your ED Stack
Most economic development teams already use a patchwork of tools—GIS, CRMs, listing feeds, workforce data, marketing software. The issue is not that those tools are...
How Small EDOs Can Win Big Projects With Sitehunt
Small EDOs compete against larger teams every day. The good news: you do not need a massive staff to win big projects. You need a...
From Newsletter and Podcast to Platform: How Sitehunt Is Transforming Economic Development
When I started the Econ Dev Show back in 2021, my goal was simple: interview economic developers nationwide to understand the real challenges facing our...
Stop Filling Out RFIs: Let Sitehunt Do the Scoring
Still babysitting RFIs? There is a faster, cleaner workflow that keeps your team focused on selling your region instead of chasing data.
Put Sitehunt in Next Year’s Budget: Here’s the 3-Line Justification
Budget season is around the corner. Before spreadsheets lock and priorities solidify, carve out a line item for Sitehunt—the platform that turns property data, RFIs,...
A Year In: Sitehunt Is Stronger Than Ever
One year in, the platform is faster, deeper, and more useful for teams that need to respond quickly and look organized. Here is what changed...
Retail Logo Maps
Sitehunt’s AI-powered platform is now rolling out a new feature to complement our property intelligence capabilities: Retail Logo Maps.
Metro vs Micro vs CBSA vs CSA: What’s the Difference, and Why It Matters
If you’ve ever dug into U.S. Census data or economic reports, you’ve probably come across a handful of confusing geographic terms: CBSA, CSA, metro, and...
How does Sitehunt transform a simple address into comprehensive property intelligence?
Ever wonder how Sitehunt transforms a simple address into comprehensive property intelligence?
Ready, Set, Go: Sitehunt vs. Human
Sitehunt now answers hundreds of questions automatically, delivering the information you need without delay, confusion, or endless follow-up emails. No effort required.
What Kills a Deal? Uncertainty, Every Time.
In economic development, one obstacle consistently derails deals: incomplete information. 8 of 10 site selectors identify missing data as the primary deal-breaker, outranking concerns about...
Sitehunt's New Automated 'GIS to Data Reports'
As economic developers, our mission to attract businesses and investment to our communities just got significantly easier. Sitehunt has unveiled a new addition to its...
Economic Development SaaS Platforms
Sitehunt is an AI-powered property database and RFI management platform specifically engineered for economic developers. The system transforms raw site data into actionable intelligence through...
Strategic Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Local Workforce Development Programs
The effective integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into local workforce development programs requires a nuanced approach that balances technological innovation with human-centered design. As of...
What You Can Learn from GIS Data to Better Understand Your Industrial Property
GIS data can provide valuable insights for understanding your industrial property.
Using ChatGPT for Local Economic Development Planning
ChatGPT can help communities create economic growth plans. This AI tool generates ideas and helps organize planning steps. Here’s how to use ChatGPT for local...
New Sitehunt Website
Sitehunt, the innovative buildings and sites database, RFI, and marketing platform, announces the launch of its new marketing website on February 10, 2025. The website...
Economic Developer or Indiana Jones: The Quest for Infrastructure Data
It’s 4:45 PM on a Friday when the RFI hits your inbox like a ton of bricks: “Please provide detailed water line specifications.”
The Impossible Magic of Economic Development
Imagine a magician performing an impossible feat. First, you select a card from his deck. He makes a show of failing to find it. Then,...
Commercial Real Estate Acronyms for the Non-CRE
Ever wondered why real estate professionals sound like they’re speaking in alphabet soup? Or why their emails look like someone fell asleep on their keyboard?...
Exciting Enhancements to Sitehunt: Your Essential Tool for Economic Development
TLDR: Sitehunt is a tool that I built from scratch to help economic developers like you answer questions about your buildings and sites so that...