Voices in Local Government

Economic development is often measured in jobs, investment, and business growth. In Taos County, New Mexico, local leaders are taking a different approach by starting with the people, culture, and traditions that already strengthen the community.

Through the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) and the Cultural Treasures Project, Taos County is working with residents to better understand the cultural assets they value and how those assets can help shape the county’s future. The work brings community voices directly into conversations about economic development, preservation, affordability, and opportunity.

In this episode of Voices in Local Government, Jessica Stern, Economic Development Director for Taos County, and Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Contessa Trujillo join ICMA’s Gabe Daugherty to discuss building an economy from the inside out and what it means for local government to “move at the speed of trust.”

IN THIS INTERVIEW:

How culture and community identity can inform local economic development.

How Taos County is using cultural asset mapping to understand what residents want to protect, restore, and revitalize.

Why trust, collaboration, and community participation matter when planning for long-term growth.

FEATURED GUESTS:

Jessica Stern, Economic Development Director, Taos County, New Mexico

Contessa Trujillo, Fellow, Economic Recovery Corps & Project Manager, Cultural Treasures Project

HOST:

Gabe Daugherty, Assistant Program Manager, Innovation & Research, ICMA

For local government and economic development professionals, this conversation offers a different way to think about growth: one that starts with understanding what a community values and builds from there.

LEARN MORE:

Economic Recovery Corps: https://economicrecoverycorps.org/

Cultural Treasures Project: https://www.culturaltreasuresproject.org/

Featured Guest: Ben R. Spoer, PhD, MPH, Program Director, City Health Dashboard and Congressional District Health Dashboard, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Population Health

Episode Host: Emily Sparks, Program Director, Thriving Communities, Innovation & Research, ICMA

In this Interview:

1. Learn how local leaders are turning city health data into action.

2. Discover the local government decisions that influence community health every day.

3. Explore real-world examples of data-driven problem-solving and grant success.

4. See how neighborhood-level insights can help target resources where they're needed most.

 

Resources Mentioned:

cityhealthdashboard.com

congressionaldistricthealthdashboard.com

In This Interview:

How the Economic Recovery Corps program builds local capacity through embedded, on-the-ground expertise.

Strategies for preserving affordable housing and preventing displacement before it happens.

The role of partnerships, data, and coalition-building in solving complex community challenges.

Why housing is critical infrastructure and a key driver of long-term economic development.

Featured Guests:

 

- Tomeka Lee, program manager, National League of Cities (NLC)

- Laura Searfoss, AICP Programs, associate director, Enterprise Community Partners

- Vonnette Harris, president & CEO, Kairos Development, LLC, ERC fellow

For city managers, economic development professionals, housing leaders, and local government staff, this conversation offers practical insights on how to align housing, transportation, and economic strategies to create more resilient and equitable communities.

Resources:

 

Economic Recovery Corps: https://economicrecoverycorps.org/

Enterprise Community Partners: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org

Purple Line Corridor Coalition: https://purplelinecorridor.org

National League of Cities Housing Supply Accelerator: https://www.nlc.org/initiative/housing-supply-accelerator/

Guest Information

 Zhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, vice president, head of MissionSquare Research Institute

Gerald Young, senior researcher, MissionSquare Research Institute

 

Topics

Financial wellness: Generic benefit, or strategy?

Guaranteed income options altering  

Artificial intelligence impact on staffing.

Retirement decisions: Human advice vs Technology.

Employers recognizing and tracking mental and emotional labor.

 

Resources

MissionSquare Research Institute

Local Government Reimagined Conference - The AI Edge: Orlando, FL | April 8-10, 2026

Key Takeaways:
The ERC program focuses on building long-term economic resilience.
It funds people and capacity, not just projects.
Communities gain repeatable local controllable tools for investment.
Economic development is a relational function, not just technical.
Local governments can be conveners and enablers of economic growth.
Community capital allows residents to invest in local businesses.
The ERC experience emphasizes the importance of trust and relationships.
Resilience is built through alignment with community priorities.
 
Featured Guests:
Sydney Davis
Entrepreneur & Funding Navigation Specialist
ERC Fellow with National Coalition for Community Capital 

Resources
Economic Recovery Corps (ERC)
Community Investment Fund Handbook & Toolkit: The National Coalition for Community Capital is a great resource. NC3 offers practical education, case studies, and tools that help communities understand what’s possible beyond traditional grants and incentives—and how to approach these models responsibly.