Connecting communities, businesses, and institutions to create lasting regional prosperity.
Butler Strategies develops inclusive, community-driven economic strategies grounded in real collaboration. Dave Butler brings a track record of building the partnerships, plans, and programs that generate measurable regional growth — for communities of all sizes.
Work With UsEconomic development isn't a single project — it's an ecosystem. Butler Strategies helps communities, local governments, and regional institutions build the strategies, partnerships, and programs that make growth possible and sustainable.
Dave brings experience working both sides of the equation: as a chamber leader who helped shape regional economic policy, and as a nonprofit CEO who secured tens of millions in funding to connect education and workforce to the economy's real needs.
The most effective economic development plans are ones communities actually own. Dave facilitates processes that surface the real priorities — not the assumed ones — and builds the broad stakeholder support needed to turn plans into action.
Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of the community's economic strengths, gaps, and opportunities — gathering data and convening stakeholders before drawing any conclusions about priorities.
Through surveys, focus groups, and facilitated conversations, Dave helps communities identify what businesses, workers, and residents actually need — not just what planners assume they need.
With clear priorities established, Dave helps design and launch the partnerships, programs, and institutions needed to deliver on the plan — from resource centers to regional coalitions.
Good plans require funding. Dave helps identify and pursue state and federal grant opportunities, and structures the public-private partnerships needed to sustain economic development work over time.
Local governments seeking to develop or refresh economic development strategies, launch business support programs, or build the regional partnerships that drive growth.
Regional and local chambers looking to develop stronger economic development programming, build new member value, or lead regional planning processes.
School districts, community colleges, and workforce boards working to align programs with regional industry needs and secure grant funding to scale their impact.
EDOs, CDFIs, and regional economic development agencies seeking strategic planning support, program design, or help building the coalitions that advance their mission.
Mission-driven organizations working on small business development, neighborhood revitalization, or workforce development who need strategic and funding support.
Businesses looking to engage in regional economic development — through workforce partnerships, public-private collaborations, or industry coalition work.
Led economic development strategy and programming for one of California's largest regional chambers — including Cap to Cap, the nation's largest chamber lobbying trip to Washington D.C., and major regional economic initiatives.
Led a regional strategic planning process that identified small business retention as the top countywide priority, resulting in the establishment of the Placer County Business Resource Center serving Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and unincorporated Placer County.
Rebuilt a struggling education-workforce nonprofit, securing $5 million in federal and $20 million in state grants to fund high school pathway programs aligned with regional industry needs — serving 20 school districts in eight Northern California counties.
Served as a key regional connector between national business education initiatives and local implementation — building the stakeholder networks and funding relationships needed to scale workforce-aligned education programs.
As chair of the Placer County Economic Development Committee, Dave led a countywide strategic planning process — surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder engagement — that identified small business retention as the top regional priority. The result was the establishment of a centralized Business Resource Center serving businesses across Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and unincorporated Placer County, providing the access to capital, marketing resources, and professional guidance that entrepreneurs had long needed but couldn't find in one place.
Navigating complex policy environments with precision — building the coalitions that move legislation forward at the state and local level.
Guiding organizations through complex transitions with structure, clarity, and the principled leadership needed to sustain long-term impact.