FINDING THE EDGE
77
QLD councils
engaged
20+
Years in practice
IEDC
Committee Member
FT
Featured commentary
SERVICES
What We Do
Practical advisory services that help councils move from strategy to implementation.
01
Strategy
For councils that need a clear, prioritised and realistic economic development plan. Local Economic Impact Advisory helps identify where a region can compete, what should be prioritised, and which actions are practical within available resources.
• Economic Development Strategies
• Regional Growth Plans
• Business & Industry Action Plans
03
Engagement
For councils and regional organisations needing stakeholder alignment, practical consultation and productive conversations that support stronger economic development decisions.
• Stakeholder Workshops
• Council & Industry Facilitation
• Regional Consultation
02
Investment
For regions seeking stronger investment outcomes through better positioning, investor readiness and credible propositions grounded in land, infrastructure, workforce and market opportunity.
• Investment Attraction Strategies
• Industrial Land & Precinct Positioning
• Investor Proposition Development
04
Thought Leadership
For economic development professionals seeking practical insights, industry commentary, speaking engagements and practitioner resources focused on regional competitiveness and investment attraction.
• Speaking
• Articles
• Training & Practitioner Resources
ABOUT PAUL
Practical Economic Development Advice Grounded in Regional Reality
Many regions are competing for the same investment, workforce and opportunities. The challenge is not simply attracting growth.
It is understanding:
It is understanding where a region has a genuine competitive edge, what infrastructure and investment gaps exist, where limited resources should be focused, and how councils can move from broad aspiration to practical action.
Local Economic Impact Advisory provides independent, practical advice designed to help regions make better strategic decisions informed by what genuinely works in practice, not what reads well in a report.
01
Economic DevelopmentStrategies
04
Workforce & Liveability Strategy
07
Facilitation & Stakeholder Engagement
02
Investment Attraction
05
Regional Growth Planning
08
Regional University Study Hub Strategy
03
Industrial Land & Precinct Positioning
06
Economic Leakage & Local Spend
09
Proposition & Narrative Development
CREDIBILITY
Trusted by Councils, Regional Organisations and Economic Development Practitioners
Providing independent economic development advice grounded in practical local government experience.
Worked with all 77 Queensland councils
Deep understanding of local government realities.
Featured by Financial Times / FT Locations
Recognised commentary on regional investment and competitiveness.
Author of Building Places Investors Believe In
Specialist authority in investment attraction and place competitiveness.
Former Chair, EDA Queensland Practitioner Network
Peer credibility within the profession.
Committee Member, International Economic Development Council
Connected to global economic development practice.
Guest on Develop This! Podcast
Invited contributor to international economic development conversations.
OUR FRAMEWORK
Find the Edge
Regions compete most effectively when natural advantages,
enabling infrastructure and industry momentum are aligned
into a credible investment story.
Natural
Advantages
The unique assets and
strengths that set a region
apart.
Enabling
Infrastructure
The physical, digital and
institutional foundations
that unlock potential.
Industry
Momentum
The sectors, investment
and activity driving
growth and opportunity.
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Credible
Investment Story
A compelling narrative
that attracts investment,
creates jobs and builds
stronger regions.
APPROACH
Why clients engage Local Economic Impact Advisory.
Economic development is not just about writing strategies. It is about making difficult decisions, identifying realistic priorities, understanding investment behaviour, and helping regions focus on what actually matters.
01
Economic Development Strategies
03
Strong Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation.
02
Honest Conversations About Regional Constraints.
04
Strategies Grounded in Implementation Reality.
INSIGHTS
A Practitioner Voice in Economic Development
Paul publishes regular commentary, jobs, data and practitioner insights for an audience of economic development professionals across Australia and New Zealand.
NEWSLETTER
01 — EcDev with Paul
Commentary on economic development strategy, investment attraction and place competitiveness.
DATA
03 — EcDev Data
Short data insights, indicators and practitioner-focused economic development observations.
PLATFORM
02 — EcDev Jobs
Curated economic development roles and opportunities from across Australia and New Zealand.
PROFILE
04 — Speaking and Commentary
Conference presentations, podcast appearances, industry commentary and practitioner contributions.
CONTACT
Need a clearer economic
Development direction?
If your council or region is reviewing its economic development strategy, preparing an investment attraction approach, repositioning industrial land, or trying to focus limited resources, let’s have a practical conversation.
Paul Cranch
Founder & Principal · Local Economic Impact Advisory