In Episode 7 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with Sarah Hoefgen, economic developer at Eldorado Inc., to explore what really drives regional economic growth. Sarah shares her journey from the Augusta Chamber of Commerce to leading economic development efforts in Eldorado, Kansas, where she's responsible for attracting major employers and investment to the community. The conversation covers the mechanics of public-private partnerships, how incentive structures work to attract businesses, and the long-term planning required to land companies like BG Products (150+ jobs) and Amazona (a German agricultural technology firm). Sarah reveals the behind-the-scenes work: site visits with site selectors, relationships with state commerce departments, and cost-benefit analyses that justify tax incentives over 20-year periods. She explains how communities position themselves competitively, what companies actually look for when expanding, and how a single relationship-like one with the state's Lieutenant Governor-can open doors for an entire region. This is a masterclass in how local business growth happens at the economic development level.
Economic development isn't a mystery-it's a systematic process of positioning your community to win major employers and investment. Sarah Hoefgen, economic developer at Eldorado Inc., pulls back the curtain on exactly how this works in practice.
From Chamber to Economic Development
Sarah's career path mirrors many community leaders: she started at the Augusta Chamber of Commerce, where she enjoyed event management and community building while raising her family. When her predecessor at Eldorado Inc. encouraged her to make the leap, she was hesitant. "I was comfortable," Sarah recalls. "I liked what I was doing." But she eventually took the role-and it transformed her understanding of what drives regional growth.
Economic development, as Sarah defines it simply, is "promoting investment in Eldorado to try and grow our economy here." But the execution is far more nuanced than that sounds.
How Public-Private Partnerships Work
Eldorado Inc. operates as a public-private partnership-it receives city funding but also raises private investor dollars. This structure matters strategically: Sarah isn't a city employee, which gives her flexibility in what she can negotiate and communicate. The city provides baseline funding and then matches any additional membership and investor dollars up to a cap (one mil, based on the city's valuation).
The relationship between Sarah and Eldorado's city manager is hands-on and continuous. She identifies opportunities and brings recommendations to the city, but major incentive packages still require city commission votes. "If a company asks for incentives, we take it through the traditional channels," Sarah explains. "But if they're just leasing a facility, like Amazon was initially, nothing has to go before the city."
Incentives and the Math Behind Them
When companies do seek incentives, Sarah uses a cost-benefit analysis to determine what makes sense for the city. Industrial revenue bonds provide favorable financing terms and sales tax exemptions on construction materials. Property tax abatements vary based on a matrix: how much capital the company invests, wage levels, and job creation determine the abatement percentage-which can go up to 100% for massive projects.
BG Products received a 20-year property tax abatement in exchange for bringing 150 jobs to Eldorado. The cost-benefit analysis showed it was worth it: the city sacrifices low tax revenue now for dramatically higher revenue once the abatement expires.
Landing Amazona: Relationships and Site Visits Matter
The Amazona deal illustrates Sarah's real work: the state's Lieutenant Governor visited the company in Germany on a trade mission, then added them to a list of companies showing expansion signals (ranked by "G score" from databases showing expansion readiness). When the company narrowed site options to states with agricultural strength, Sarah hosted site visits. The company leased a vacant facility and is now developing robotic farming equipment technology-no incentives needed, just a good working relationship.
This is why Sarah talks about Eldorado "all over the world every day." She's not just managing deals; she's representing her region's value proposition to site selectors, international companies, and state commerce officials.
What Makes Economic Development Work
Sarah's favorite part of the job is learning-about different industries, technologies, and the human relationships that drive regional growth. And that's what local business expansion really comes down to: someone like Sarah, with credibility and relationships, who can connect opportunities to her community. For any region looking to grow, that investment in economic development leadership pays dividends.
Who is Sarah Hoefgen and what is Eldredo Inc.?
Sarah Hoefgen is an economic development professional featured in Episode 7 of the Killer Growth Podcast. While the episode transcript focuses on her background-including her journey from Chester, England to the United States-Eldredo Inc. is her organization. To learn the full scope of her work in economic development and how it impacts local business growth, listen to the complete episode on the Killer Growth Podcast.
How does economic development work benefit from digital marketing and local SEO?
Economic development organizations and chambers of commerce need strong digital marketing to attract businesses, communicate opportunities, and build authority in their region. Local SEO ensures they rank for searches like 'economic development Wichita' or 'business resources [city name],' while Google Ads and social media management help them reach business owners actively looking to relocate or expand. A strong web presence and CRM system also help track leads and nurture relationships with prospects.
How does KillerGrowth help economic development organizations and nonprofits get more visibility online?
KillerGrowth specializes in local SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads, website design, and GoHighLevel CRM for organizations that need to attract clients and stakeholders. For economic development groups, we build high-converting websites, run targeted ads to reach decision-makers, and implement CRM systems to manage and nurture leads. Our strategies ensure your message reaches business owners and investors in your market.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other digital marketing agencies in Wichita?
KillerGrowth doesn't do generic digital marketing. We specialize in local service businesses and organizations that need to fill their pipeline with qualified leads. We own and operate GoHighLevel, so we build custom CRM automation into every campaign. Our founder, Samuel McVay, leads strategy calls personally, and we focus on ROI-not vanity metrics. We're Wichita-based, we understand local markets deeply, and we deliver results you can measure.
How can an economic development organization or local business owner get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. We'll discuss your goals, audit your current digital presence, and show you exactly how local SEO, Google Ads, or website optimization can attract more qualified leads. No obligation-just honest advice on what will actually move the needle for your business.