Mayor Appoints Interim Economic Development Director

From The City of Woonsocket: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt announced today that her administration has selected Dr. Scott A. Gibbs as Interim Director of Economic Development. As explained by Mayor Baldelli-Hunt, she has repeatedly emphasized the importance of engaging a professional economic developer to enhance the City’s capacity to manage business investment opportunities and issues. “The selection of Scott to serve as the Interim Director ensures that we have access to a highly-qualified professional who has the experience and knowledge to immediately respond to existing and future business inquiries, as well as design the City’s economic development program and assist in the recruitment of a permanent Director,” as stated by the Mayor.

Scott Gibbs currently serves as the President of The Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island (EDFRI), and New England Economic Development Services, Inc. (NEEDS), both located in the Highland Corporate Park. Gibbs is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a designation awarded by the International Economic Development Council, and is the only CEcD in Rhode Island. Gibbs has a Masters Degree of Regional Planning, Masters Degree in Business Administration, and a Doctor of Business Administration. Gibbs has 37 years of leadership experience in economic development in the municipal and private, not-for-profit sectors.

The Mayor indicated that Gibbs will commence his role with the City immediately. “In addition to Scott’s qualifications, he is intimately familiar with the Woonsocket and regional markets. This ensures that his assumption of the responsibilities as Director of Economic Development will be quick, allowing us to immediately assess and respond to opportunities,” as explained by the Mayor. Gibbs will continue in his roles with EDFRI and NEEDS while serving as the City’s Interim Director of Economic Development. As stated by Gibbs, “I enthusiastically embrace the challenge the Mayor has given me, which is to enhance the City’s capacity to promote economic development. I look forward to working with the Mayor, City Council and municipal workers to design and build an economic development program, and to recruit a new permanent Director to assume leadership.”

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