Refrain Economic Strategies

Economic Development Consulting

We move development projects forward.

Refrain Economic Strategies is a planning and economic development consulting firm. We help clients navigate incentives, financing, and strategy to move development projects forward. We also partner with economic development organizations and communities to build the capacity and plans that attract them.

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We serve

  • Businesses
  • Developers
  • Cities
  • Economic Development Organizations
  • Nonprofits
  • Educational Institutions
  • Utilities

/ Services

Senior-level expertise across the full economic development lifecycle.

01

Insights

  • Economic Impact Studies
  • Market & Demographic Analysis
  • Community Profiles
  • Business Intelligence

02

Strategy

  • Project Financing & Capital Stacks
  • Strategic Planning
  • Business Recruitment
  • Site Preparedness

03

Execution

  • Incentive Negotiation & Management
  • Site Selection Support
  • Grant Development & Administration
  • Government Affairs

/ Approach

Relationships, expertise, and results.

Effective economic development runs on relationships, expertise, and a deep understanding of how deals actually get done. Refrain Economic Strategies brings senior-level experience, established networks, and firsthand knowledge of the programs, players, and processes that move projects forward.

We combine that foundation with a custom-built AI-powered economic development platform that enhances our research, sharpens our analysis, and accelerates the intelligence we deliver to clients.

Need something custom?

Our experience is broad. If your situation doesn't fit neatly into the pillars above, reach out. We can offer custom solutions for a wide range of economic development challenges.

Let's talk

/ Results

Selected case studies.

$10M+
Infrastructure capital stack, West Plains
$50M
Investment and 50 jobs, Kennett
$650M
Allocated in a year by a new state division
150+
BRE visits at a regional EDO built from the ground up
18
Counties in the 2026 Southeast Missouri Economic Report

  1. 01

    Creating a $10M Infrastructure Capital Stack through Grants

    For nearly ten years, West Plains had been denied the highway overpass its largest employer, a major defense contractor, needed to expand. Repeated attempts to land a single large federal grant kept falling short. Shad helped rethink the problem, creating a stacked strategy with CDBG, DRA, and EDA programs alongside financial participation from the railroad and private sector support. The full package secured more than $10 million for the successful project, allowing the private expansion.

  2. 02

    Securing a $50M Investment and 50 Jobs in Kennett

    When a major agricultural processing company began exploring a new facility location, they reached out to the State of Missouri. Shad served as the primary guide for the project from first contact through closing, evaluating Kennett as a viable site and assembling a competitive incentives package that included local incentives, Missouri Works payroll tax credits, and infrastructure grants from CDBG and DRA. The result was a $50 million investment in Kennett, bringing 50 jobs and long-term economic activity to the community.

  3. 03

    Creating a New $650M Division of State Government

    Shad played a central leadership role in Missouri's Covid economic recovery. He worked with the Governor's office to create the concept for 9 new grant programs that were included in the Governor's budget. Shad presented those programs to the legislature and then built the team and operational system to run them once funding was secured. The programs spanned community revitalization, tourism, small business support, industrial site development, nonprofits, and more. As leader of the new Federal Initiatives Division, Shad hired a team of 20 and oversaw the allocation of approximately $650M within a year.

  4. 04

    Building a Regional EDO from the Ground Up

    As founding CEO of SEMO REDI, Shad oversaw the transformation from a volunteer-led organization with a $250,000 budget into a professional operation with a professional staff, a budget approaching $600,000, and a partner base that has more than doubled. The organization has completed more than 150 Business Retention and Expansion visits, supported multiple expansion projects with local incentives, received and managed infrastructure grants, and developed a new regional strategic plan.

  5. 05

    The 2026 Southeast Missouri Economic Report

    On behalf of SEMO REDI and Southeast Missouri State University SBDC, Shad and Jakob created and released the 2026 Southeast Missouri Economic Report, one of the most comprehensive economic assessments ever produced for the 18-county region. The report combined national datasets with direct survey input from nearly 100 regional employers to assess population trends, workforce dynamics, industry performance, business sentiment, and quality-of-life factors. The report was designed to serve as a shared foundation for regional leaders, policymakers, educators, and employers making long-term decisions about Southeast Missouri's future.

/ The Team

The people behind the practice.

Shad Burner

Shad Burner

Founder & Principal · CEcD

Shad is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with 15+ years of senior leadership in state government, regional economic development, and private consulting. From leading state grant programs that distributed $650M+ across Missouri to re-building a regional economic development organization, he brings unique experiences and a vast network to our clients. Shad also serves as a Principal with KBS Group, a Missouri-based lobbying firm founded by former U.S. Senator, Kit Bond.

Jakob Pallesen

Jakob Pallesen

Data Lead

Jakob spends his days as the Director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University. He spends his free time nerding out over economic data with Nord Strategies, his company that partners with Refrain on key client work. He has vast experience with national data sets, primary data collection, and turning data into practical insights for communities and organizations.

Adam Appleton

Adam Appleton

Head of Marketing & AI

As a creative director and digital marketing strategist, Adam helps organizations elevate their brand and story. He has served as creative lead on agency-of-record work for brands ranging from healthcare to telecommunications, and led campaigns for one of the world's most recognized names in outdoor power equipment. His experience spans digital operations, campaign workflows, audience engagement, and applied AI, helping clients communicate and compete more effectively.

/ Our Platform

Refrain Systems for Economic Development

Every document your organization has ever produced, instantly available to a dedicated, secure AI that works alongside your team and expands your capacity.

Explore the system

Let's talk

Ready to move a project forward?

shad@refrainstrategies.com573.576.2755