Place marketing isn't just marketing anymore. It's recruiting, community building, and storytelling all at once.

In this episode, destination storytelling expert Kristin Luna shares what's working in place marketing right now: why print still has a role, how AI is reshaping the way communities need to think about their online presence, and how public art can be one of the most accessible and cost-effective tools for building a community's identity.

Because the best marketing for your community works for tourists and future residents at the same time.

Resources Mentioned:

• 2026 Tennessee Vacation Guide: https://www.tnvacation.com/guide

• Kristin's Blog, Camels & Chocolate: https://www.camelsandchocolate.com/

• Kristin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunaticatlarge

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00:00 Introduction

01:39 Kristin's background in journalism and place marketing

2:54 Economic Development Marketing vs. Talent Attraction Marketing

06:49 The most important parts of a place marketing strategy

09:00 Where print fits in today's marketing landscape

12:43 How AI is reshaping place marketing

16:19 Anyone can be an ambassador?

21:27 How public art contributes to place branding

26:25 Maintaining community character through growth

31:24 Fun closing question

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At Livability, we highlight the nation's most vibrant small and mid-sized cities as a trusted voice for communities across America. We help places attract talent and reach target companies through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at aellis@livability.com.

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

For many communities, the outdoor economy is still treated as a soft amenity rather than a serious economic lever, even though it generates over $650 billion in economic impact each year.

In this episode, Ross Berlin, Senior Consultant at Fourth Economy, makes the case for why that needs to change. We dig into how outdoor assets connect directly to talent attraction in the modern economic development equation, get practical about the challenges (seasonality, overcrowding, equity of access), and how communities can work through them to maximize the economic impact of what they already have.

00:00 Why outdoor recreation matters as an economic development topic

02:45 The data and impact

05:45 Defining the outdoor economy (it's bigger than you think)

08:33 Benefits of investing in outdoor recreation

11:38 Challenges economic developers face

14:31 Competition between communities

17:42 How outdoor rec fits into talent attraction campaigns

20:41 Preservation and "champagne problems"

24:58 Equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation

28:27 Final thoughts and fun closing question

Resources Mentioned:

• The Amenity Trap: https://headwaterseconomics.org/outdoor-recreation/amenity-trap/

At Livability, we highlight the nation's most vibrant small and mid-sized cities as a trusted voice for communities across America. We help places attract talent and reach target companies through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at aellis@livability.com.

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Short-term workforce training is only as strong as what happens after graduation.

In this episode, Kevin Golumbeck, Director of CareerEdge at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, shares how the Bridges to Careers program has built an employer engagement model that looks different depending on the industry - from closed-door job fairs at the Chamber to contractors visiting classrooms directly.

He also explains what drives their consistently high completion rates and the wraparound supports that help participants get to the finish line.

If you're looking to build or replicate something similar, Kevin offers practical advice on building relationships before you need them, measuring outcomes beyond seat time, and using industry councils to keep employers engaged and informed.

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00:00 Introduction

01:51 Overview of the Bridges to Careers program

03:22 How often trainings run

06:03 How employers engage with the program

07:56 Job placement and student support

08:50 How the program is funded

10:27 Wraparound support for participants

11:23 Program growth and impact numbers

12:58 Who participates in the program

14:39 How the program is promoted and students are recruited

15:54 How Bridges to Careers fits alongside community college offerings

18:48 Kevin's background in education

21:20 Advice for communities who want to replicate this program

22:51 A success story

24:05 Fun closing question

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At Livability, we highlight the nation's most vibrant small and mid-sized cities as a trusted voice for communities across America. We help places attract talent and reach target companies through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at aellis@livability.com.

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.