The Steadfast Sound

 Cooperatives know their markets. They know their infrastructure. They know their members and businesses operating in their service territories, and they have a vested interest in the long-term economic health of the communities they serve. When those capacities are intentionally connected to economic development, an electric cooperative can become much more than the organization that delivers power to a site. It can become part of the team that makes the site competitive in the first place.

As Steadfast has grown, the way we lead the company has grown with it. Over the summer, founder Doug Rasmussen transitioned from Chief Executive Officer to Founder and Strategic Advisor. At the same time, Cecilia Dvorak (CEO), Margaret Riter (Chief Strategy and Growth Officer), and Dominique Reid (Chief Operating and Finance Officer) assumed full ownership of Steadfast and responsibility for what comes next.

Across Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, the American Southeast has become one of the most dynamic landscapes for planning, expansion, and long‑term competitiveness.

When a rural community has an idle industrial facility, a ready workforce, and a company looking to expand, incentives can help connect the right resources, reduce barriers, and create the momentum needed to move a project from possibility to execution. The Edible Garden project in Webster City, Iowa, is a powerful example of this in action.

Communities are rediscovering the untapped potential of their Brownfield sites. When approached strategically, these sites become some of the most catalytic assets in a community’s economic development portfolio.

In collaboration with Terracon

Data centers are reshaping the economic landscape of cities across the country, but the way they’re planned, communicated, and integrated into neighborhoods matters just as much as the investment behind them. Read about a data center project in St. Louis, MO that used community input to design and implement an innovation district.

Review company impacts, client stories and project summaries from our 2025 work year in this comprehensive report.

Our team has intentionally deepened our understanding of programs and incentives throughout Western New York to support manufacturing expansion and relocation. Our Rochester team is here to make sure those investments land, thrive, and deliver lasting value for the region.

In today’s economic environment, businesses and developers are making decisions against a backdrop of shifting markets, evolving policies, and unpredictable global conditions. At Steadfast City, we are built for moments like this.

The Boys & Girls Club of West Central Missouri is moving forward with a new 30,454-square-foot Teen Center, made possible through New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment.

The benefits of strategic planning extend far beyond the final document: Stronger stakeholder alignment, sharper decision-making, and greater resilience and most importantly, strategic plans empower leaders to say yes to what matters—and no to what doesn’t.

Each year, the St. Louis Regional Freightway produces their Industrial Real Estate Market Indicators & Workforce Statistics Report. This data-driven visual tool provides a comprehensive snapshot of the St. Louis region’s logistics landscape, and for the last 6 years, Steadfast City has played a key role in shaping it. From research to consultation, our team works behind the scenes to ensure the report reflects the region’s strengths and opportunities for industrial growth.

The success of real estate development projects, whether they involve tax abatements, grants, or workforce strategy, often hinge on early and strategic buy-in.

Each year, the St. Louis Regional Freightway produces their Industrial Real Estate Market Indicators & Workforce Statistics Report. This data-driven visual tool provides a comprehensive snapshot of the St. Louis region’s logistics landscape, and for the last 6 years, Steadfast City has played a key role in shaping it. From research to consultation, our team works behind the scenes to ensure the report reflects the region’s strengths and opportunities for industrial growth.

Reflect on Steadfast City’s time at the annual YMCA (NAYDO) conference and learn about how we support national non-profits in their efforts to re-develop sites, revitalize communities and fund their workforces and programming.

Steadfast City’s expansion into Ohio and the Great Lakes region was a natural evolution, driven by the area's forward-thinking approach to economic development and deep-rooted community engagement. Historic communities throughout the region are shaping the future while honoring their past, embracing innovative strategies that make growth both sustainable and inclusive.