Why We Don’t Recruit Every Business

By Breezy Straton, President, Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership

When people think about economic development, it’s easy to picture a simple goal: bring in as many companies as possible. But strong, modern communities don’t grow by accident, and they don’t grow by saying yes to everything. They grow by making deliberate choices about the kinds of industries that can truly shape their future.

And in Douglas County, the things residents ask for most — more restaurants and retail, stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and places to gather and enjoy life — don’t appear on their own. They follow the fundamentals: population growth, rising household incomes, and a strong daytime workforce. Those quality‑of‑life improvements are the outcomes of a healthy, well‑aligned economy, not the starting point. That’s why our approach must be strategic, patient, and grounded in data.

Like all communities, Douglas County has finite resources. Land, infrastructure, workforce capacity, and public investment must be used wisely. Therefore, we are forced to ask a long-term, strategic question:

What types of industries are most likely to succeed in Douglas County while creating lasting value for the people who live here?

The answer begins with data.

Target Industry Sectors Grounded in Local Strengths
In 2022-2023, Elevate Douglas partnered with Ernst & Young (EY) to take a fresh, data‑driven look at our economic landscape. The goal was to identify the industries where Douglas County is best positioned to compete and understand the workforce needed to support them. EY’s analysis produced a refined set of target industries and niche sectors, along with clear opportunities to strengthen our talent pipeline.

Our target sectors — Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Technology & Professional Services, and Media & Entertainment — weren’t selected because they’re trendy. They were selected because the data shows Douglas County already has meaningful traction in these areas.

Our strategic data analysis found:

• Advanced Manufacturing employment grew 7% from 2017–2022, outpacing the 13‑county labor shed (3%).
• Life Sciences & Healthcare employment grew 188% in the same period — a remarkable expansion.
• Douglas County’s concentration of Life Sciences jobs is nearly four times the national average (location quotient 3.98).
• Manufacturing and healthcare wages in the labor shed are $21,000–$48,000 higher than Douglas County’s current averages — signaling room for upward mobility.

These are not speculative opportunities. They are sectors where Douglas County already has a competitive advantage and where residents can build meaningful, higher‑wage careers.

Building Momentum Where It Can Compound
Target sectors are not chosen at random. They represent the intersection of opportunity and fit. For example,

• Advanced Manufacturing brings skilled workers and supply‑chain investment.
• Life sciences and biotechnology firms anchor innovation ecosystems and attract specialized talent.
• Financial technology and headquarters operations bring higher-wage employment and professional services.

Together, these sectors expand the economic base in ways that make a community more attractive not only to future employers, but also to the retailers, restaurants, and service providers that follow people and spending power.

How Target Sectors Shape Quality of Life
Residents consistently tell us they want more restaurants, retail, entertainment, and recognizable national brands. Every day we are confronted by the market reality that these amenities don’t arrive simply because a community wants them — they follow market depth. These companies look at:

• Household income
• Housing density
• Workforce concentration
• Daytime population — the number of people present during working hours

That last factor is critical. Only 23% of people who work in Douglas County live here, meaning most of our workforce leaves the county at the end of the day. A stronger employment base increases daytime population, which in turn creates sustained demand for retail, dining, and services.

In other words, the industries we recruit today help create the conditions for the amenities we want tomorrow.

Economic Development Is a System, Not a Series of Deals
The data makes this clear: workforce, business climate, and quality of life are interconnected. Employers need better systems for navigating challenges. Workers need training pathways and fewer barriers. Residents need amenities and opportunities. And the county needs a diversified, resilient economic base.

This is why economic development must be understood as a system — not a collection of isolated wins. The most successful communities aren’t the ones that say yes to everything. They’re the ones that understand who they are, where they’re going, and how to build intentionally toward that future.

By focusing on the industries that align with Douglas County’s strengths and offer higher‑wage jobs, we’re building the economic foundation that attracts the amenities residents want. This work takes time, but it is the most reliable path to the Douglas County our community envisions: a place where opportunity is expanding, quality of life is rising, and the future feels full of possibility.