LIVE from #SEDC2026 in Bonita Springs, Florida | Matt Drinen, Lee Anderson, Maureen Carpenter

Recorded live from the 2026 SEDC Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, host Ray Methvin sits down with three industry leaders sharing tools and strategies to drive regional growth. First, Matt Drennan, Co-Founder of Impact Marketplace, breaks down how communities and businesses leverage New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to close funding gaps, incentivize manufacturing and reshoring, and support emerging initiatives like affordable for-sale housing. Next, Lee Anderson, Vice President of Customer Success at Localintel, discusses how dynamic web visualizations, curated data platforms, and responsible AI guardrails help economic development organizations communicate their value proposition and streamline project responses.Rounding out the episode, Maureen Carpenter, President and CEO of the Glasgow-Barren County Industrial Development Authority, shares recent success stories from Kentucky, including major capital investments, the South Cooper Industrial Park expansion, and key lessons in navigating foreign direct investment with international companies. Together, these conversations offer valuable insights on securing project financing, mastering digital storytelling, and fostering community readiness across the South.The SEDC Podcast is sponsored by Insyteful.