Ramsey County has named Josh Olson as director of Community and Economic Development.
The hiring process began in January and Olson starts on April 14. He has been serving as interim director since February of last year.
Community and Economic Development focuses on housing and homeownership, infrastructure, businesses and redevelopment and economic development, among other services in the county. Olson will oversee an annual budget of $25 million and a 14-person team.
Olson joined the county in 2009 and previously served as the department’s deputy director and in a variety of roles. He worked on the RiversEdge project, an $800 million public-private partnership to revitalize downtown St. Paul’s riverfront. He also oversaw the deployment of $37 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to create and preserve deeply affordable housing.
Olson also previously served as redevelopment manager for the county redevelopment of the 427-acre Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, now known as Rice Creek Commons.
He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado, Denver and a bachelor of arts degree from Valparaiso University.
Olson is a member of the American Planning Association and the Economic Development Association of Minnesota. He provides executive leadership to the Public Development and Infrastructure Council, a part of the Urban Land Institute.
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