The partnership's excitement was short-lived.

According to sources, approximately three seconds after signing the contract, Rae asked a question that nobody in the room was prepared to answer.

"So... what exactly is economic development?" she asked.

Witnesses say the room immediately fell silent.

Several staff members reportedly exchanged nervous glances before launching into what became a 16-minute explanation involving workforce development, business retention and expansion, infrastructure investment, target industry recruitment, entrepreneurship, tax base diversification, quality of life, industrial parks, regional partnerships, economic gardening, industry clusters, knowledge economies, innovation ecosystems, site readiness, talent attraction, and at least one "economic development ecosystem" diagram that somehow resembled both a subway map and the instructions for assembling a piece of IKEA furniture.

Rae listened attentively before responding.

"So... it's kind of like LinkedIn for your community?"

Officials later described the answer as "close enough."

The influencer, who boasts more than 1.8 million followers across multiple platforms, was originally hired to create engaging content showcasing Oak Haven's economic opportunities.

Her first video generated more than 1,076 views and featured drone footage of an industrial park set to music that suggested something far more exciting was about to happen.

The video included the caption:

"Just toured this giant empty field and apparently this is a huge deal."

Industry professionals praised the content as one of the most accurate descriptions of economic development ever published on social media.

The EDO's leadership remains optimistic.

"For years we've struggled to explain what we do," said Executive Director Brian Callahan. "Madison asked the same question every citizen, elected official, and family member has asked us at Thanksgiving. Frankly, she captured the essence of economic development while avoiding all 47 slides we normally use."

The partnership's communications team has since worked closely with Rae to develop a series of educational videos.

Topics include:

Why economic developers get excited about sewer capacity

The difference between a shovel-ready site and an actual shovel

What happens at site selector conferences

Why everyone keeps talking about workforce

An eight-part documentary exploring the phrase "business-friendly environment."

At times, content development has not gone smoothly.

In one widely viewed video, Rae referred to a speculative industrial site as "a beautiful meadow perfect for cows and possibly advanced manufacturing."

Another featured her standing in front of a vacant building asking viewers to vote on whether it should become a brewery, a coworking space, luxury apartments, a pickleball complex, or "an innovation hub, whatever that means."

The poll remains too close to call.

Despite occasional misunderstandings, local officials believe the partnership is making steady progress.

A recent survey found that public awareness of economic development increased significantly after Rae's campaign launched.

Unfortunately, the survey also found that 61 percent of residents now believe economic development is a lifestyle brand.

Meanwhile, Rae continues to learn.

During a recent board meeting, she reportedly asked whether a ground breaking is "basically a season finale."

Board members described the question as surprisingly insightful.