Assistant Director for Economic Development

City of Elkhart•Elkhart, IN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Promotes the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the development of new business through financing programs, land/building availability assistance, tax incentives and technical assistance through local partnerships. Administers and develops economic development policies and programs for the City of Elkhart; performs other work as may be requested by the Director and/or the Mayor.

Requirements

Minimum of 4-year college degree in Economics, Urban Planning, Political Science, Public Administration or Business Administration.
Minimum of 4 years comparable experience with a Master’s Degree counting as an equivalent of 2 years’ experience.
Knowledge of public sector financing including: tax incremental financing, tax abatement and industrial development bonds.
Strong writing skills as required for preparing grants, project reports and general correspondence.
Financial management skills including spreadsheet preparation and knowledge of general accounting procedures.
Knowledge of real estate development including creating and evaluating project pro formas, property acquisition, zoning, site planning and subdivision process.
Successfully passing a post offer drug screen is required.
Background checks producing acceptable BMV and criminal history reports required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree strongly desired.

Responsibilities

Develop and cultivate relationships with other Economic Development organizations, regional businesses, governments and media on a local, regional and statewide basis to broaden the economic development opportunities.
Researches and understands all applicable economic development incentive programs that attract business investment and encourage business expansion.
Work with state and local economic development organizations to attract new businesses.
Develop proposals for the appropriate use of public incentives based on individual projects.
Prepares financial analyses on all economic incentive proposals, assesses the economic feasibility of projects, and makes recommendations to the Director on public sector funding participation.
Prepares and solicits Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from private and/or public entities for economic development projects.
Advises and works with the City Common Council and top management to develop strategies and initiate projects for economic development.
Researches target parcels and associated opportunities for grant funding for special urban redevelopment projects that include, but are not limited to, brownfields redevelopment, open space acquisition and redevelopment, and special “overlay” districts.
Identify critical skills needed in the local workforce to support business growth.
Work with workforce development organizations to create programs and strategies to develop critical skills within the local workforce.
Create redevelopment strategies for selected brownfield sites.
Prepares and maintains a database containing the various local, State and Federal economic development incentives.
Coordinates and implements the objectives of the Urban Enterprise Association.