FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced the appointment of William Murdock as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development's Urban Development Division. As Director of Urban Development, Murdock oversees the Division's mission to assist Ohioans in enhancing the economic viability, sustainability, and revitalization of their communities. The Urban Development Division aids communities by working to identify the resources and financing necessary to improve Ohio's economic climate by encouraging place-based reinvestment, innovative land use, environmental remediation, and job retention and creation.

"With his extensive background in city planning, zoning, and brownfield redevelopment, William brings the expertise we need, and enormous energy and enthusiasm for our work," said Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "His past experience at the local level will help us to view our urban reinvestment initiatives from all perspectives."

Prior to joining the Ohio Department of Development, Murdock was Deputy Director of Planning and Development for the City of Gahanna in Franklin County, where he coordinated the city's planning, zoning, and brownfield redevelopment efforts. While with Gahanna, he led a public-private partnership to create Central Park of Gahanna, which rests on the redeveloped Bedford I Landfill, the former site of a brick manufacturing facility, undeveloped commercial property, and a landfill that accepted municipal and industrial waste from the 1970s to 1995. Murdock also led the effort to produce the City's first comprehensive online GIS inventory of brownfield sites, developed new regulation and ongoing registration of former solid waste sites, strengthened city enforcement of abandoned sites, and led the city's first unified development fee schedule and rewrite of planning and zoning code to streamline internal processes, simplify and improve the public's experience, and enhance revenue development.

Murdock was formerly the Senior Environment and Community Planner for the City of Gahanna, where he supported environmental planning and development, urban planning and redevelopment, and economic development and business retention for the City. He also supported the City's Convention and Visitor's Bureau through tourism development and the coordination of events such as the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival and promotions to market the city.

Murdock earned four degrees from The Ohio State University, including a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Bachelor of Science in Economics, a Master of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Administration, and a Master of City and Regional Planning. Also, Murdock is professionally certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

A photo of William Murdock is available by clicking here.

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Media Contacts: Kelly Schlissberg at (614) 466-4133 or Melissa Vince at (614) 466-6619