Economic Development Director
Atlanta Metropolitan Area
Norcross is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia. It is a suburb located immediately northeast of Atlanta.My role was to help spur investments in the city that create jobs, increase the tax base, and promote the growth of the local economy, while enhancing the overall quality of life for both residents and visitors.I was responsible for managing the city's economic development programs and services, including:-Directing and conducting Business Retention & Expansion efforts (BRE) -->Supervising and directing Business Development Manager-Helping develop, update and coordinate city master plans and future land use/zoning strategy-Overseeing commercial and residential development efforts throughout the city-Acting as Staff Liaison to – and Subject Matter Expert for – city’s two development authorities -Supervise execution of programmatic efforts on behalf of city business owners and households -->Norcross Small Business Grant Program ($600,000) -->Norcross Nonprofit Grant Program ($480,000)ACCOMPLISHMENTS-Responsible for helping to stimulate more than $750 million of total investment, including commercial restaurant/retail projects and 2,500+ units of residential development across the price point spectrum, ranging from single family homes and townhomes to multifamily apartments as well as affordable housing and “missing middle” housing stock.-Helped coordinate and complete several major master planning and strategic economic/community development efforts, including the development and implementation of a Target Industry Study, a downtown Master Plan, and the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.-Increased engagement with the local Hispanic business community through a financial partnership with Prospera, an organization that specializes in providing bilingual business assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business (Hispanics represent the largest race/ethnicity amongst residents, at 35%).
