Westerville Resident Named Delaware Economic Director

Shannon Hamons will be charged with brining continuted economic development to Delaware Ohio. (photo by Toby Boyce)

The City of Delaware has hired Shannon Hamons to serve as the city’s economic development coordinator effective February 8.

Hamons has been economic development director for the City of Westerville, City of Upper Arlington and the City of Grove City. He most recently worked for Columbus-based Pizzuti Companies, a national commercial retail business with offices in Orlando, Chicago and Atlanta.

Hamons will begin his duties with an annual salary of $78,000.

“The City of Delaware will benefit from Shannon’s extensive public and private sector experience,” City Manager Tom Homan said. “His expertise will keep Delaware competitive by proactively engaging the development community to attract businesses to our commercial corridors.”

Hamons, who lives in Westerville in Delaware County, is a Certified Economic Developer and is a member of the International Economic Development Council. He said he is excited about his new duties with the city.

“Delaware is a very attractive community because of its many attributes such as quality of life, standard of living, and political and professional leadership,” he said. “I look forward to advancing Delaware’s economic development goals.”

Hamons will work closely with city departments and city council to update strategic plans and implement marketing and development strategies.

“Shannon will be a strong addition to the city’s team, given his extensive economic development experience in the public sector and his most recent private sector experience,” Homan said.

The City has been without an economic development coordinator since April 2009. The city began a search for a new coordinator last year but held off on filling the position because of mid-year budget cuts that carried over into 2010. A recently opened position in the Planning and Community Development Department, combined with City Council’s support for filling the position opened the way for the hiring.

“Ideally, we would have been able to fill the planning position, now, as well; however, given the fact that the economic development position has been vacant nearly a year and the need to expand the city’s economic base is so critical, it is simply more important right now to fill that position,” Homan said.

Hamons’ background and experience in the community development arena will allow him to provide assistance to the Planning and Community Development Department, Homan added.

Source: City of Delaware public relations

Similar Posts:

• Stimulus Plan Bringing Broadband Internet to Delaware
• Gas Station Emerging in Stratford
• Less Than One Percent of Delaware Homes Foreclosed On