In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Mark Perna to explore "Rally Your Region," a powerful new initiative developed in partnership with the International Economic Development Council.

Designed to help communities break through silos, build consensus, and take real action, Rally Your Region provides a structured, customizable framework to align stakeholders around a shared vision for economic and workforce success.

If your region struggles to align education, employers, and community leaders, this episode offers a clear path forward.

What You'll Learn

The Concept Behind Rally Your Region

Why regions need a central rally point to move forward
How alignment drives measurable economic outcomes
What makes this initiative different from traditional planning efforts

Why Regional Collaboration Is So Hard

Competing priorities across organizations
Lack of shared goals and accountability
The challenge of moving from discussion to action

Building True Consensus

How to create buy-in across sectors
The importance of a shared "why"
Turning agreement into execution

Connecting Education and Workforce

Why the education-to-employment pipeline is often broken
How to better align:

K-12 systems
Higher education
Employers

Why mindset matters:

"Young people are not a problem to be solved."

The Power of a Rally Point

At the core of the initiative is a simple but powerful idea:

Create a rally point where everyone buys in

A shared vision
A common language
A coordinated strategy

Without it, regions remain fragmented. With it, they can move forward together.

Actionable Steps for Your Community

Identify key regional stakeholders
Establish a neutral, trusted convening space
Define shared priorities and goals
Customize the Rally Your Region framework to fit your community
Focus on implementation—not just planning

Key Insights

✔ The world of work has fundamentally changed✔ Alignment is now more important than ever✔ Collaboration must lead to clear action steps✔ Workforce development is a regional challenge✔ Flexibility and customization are critical for success

Memorable Sound Bites

"Creating a rally point where everyone buys in."
"The world has completely changed."
"Young people are not a problem to be solved."

DT #632 Rally Your Region: A New Playbook for Economic Development