News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Chief Economic Development Officer Mark Barbash today announced the appointment of Kevin J. Carver as the Regional Economic Development Director for the Dayton region. Carver will be responsible for directing economic development efforts and establishing an agenda for continued growth for Darke, Preble, Montgomery, Miami, Shelby, Clinton, Greene, Clark and Champaign Counties in Western Ohio. He will serve as a liaison between the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) and state government with local business leaders, elected officials, and economic development groups to meet the economic, business, and community opportunities throughout the region.

"Kevin's leadership experience in local government shows he knows how to build bridges between business and government officials and the residents they serve to create development strategies that work," Barbash said. "The state of Ohio wants that kind of attention and commitment to the individual needs and strengths of a region; and we're confident that Kevin's thorough knowledge of the economic landscape in Western Ohio will be an excellent tool for the Dayton office."

Prior to his appointment, Carver was Deputy City Manager for the City of Huber Heights (Montgomery County), where he was responsible for administrative management of 45 employees in seven departments with total annual budgets exceeding $14 million. As Deputy City Manager, Carver managed a $9 million design/build process and contract for public infrastructure, led a city negotiating team for new hospital development and coordinated development and adoption of public infrastructure design standards.

Carver previously served as City Manager for the City of Riverside, also in Montgomery County. The city was formed in the mid-1990s and Carver managed day-to-day operations of 80 staff members, including Police, Fire, Public Service, Planning and Zoning, Finance and Economic Development. As City Manager, Carver created and implemented a five-year capital budget process and planned and developed the City's first commerce park. Carver also formerly held the positions of Director of Affordable Housing with JD&H Corp/Town Properties, Ltd. And Executive Director of Community and Economic Development for Montgomery County, where he worked to develop the Economic Development/Government Equity (ED/GE) program, which is a nationally recognized program linking economic development incentives from the county with revenue sharing by local jurisdictions within a county. He also helped to establish the Montgomery County region's first Affordable Housing Trust Program, managed establishment of the county’s Performing Arts Fund and coordinated standardized residential building code for all cities and villages.

Carver earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton and a Master of Public Administration from Wright State University. He also attended economic development professional certification training at the National Development Council in Washington, DC.

Carver began his duties on May 29, 2007.

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Media contacts: Melissa Ament at (614) 466-6619 or Kelly Hassett at (614) 466-4133