Craig Taylor’s nomination to lead the Community Planning and Economic Development Agency in Minneapolis moved ahead this week, with an approval by the City Council’s Committee of Community Development and Regulatory Services. “I believe there is an opportunity to broaden the network of economic prosperity so that it touches and reaches every person in every corner of this community regardless of their race, age, sexual orientation and their economic status,” said Taylor at a public hearing before the committee.
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Taylor, nominated by Mayor Betsy Hodges for a two-year term as CPED Director, would be responsible for housing and commercial development and long range planning. In that role, he’d also serve as Executive Director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency. The 2014 CPED budget is $94.8 million, with a staff of 230.
Taylor is currently serving as the University of Minnesota Executive Director of the Office for Business and Community Development and the Business and Technology Center. Prior to that, he was the manager of Corporate Small Business Development at Xcel Energy. “We will be a world class city,” said Taylor at the public hearing. “Part of that is really being able to think about our willingness to consider a city that will not allow itself to be divided by privilege and poverty.”
The full City Council is scheduled to vote on Taylor’s appointment August 1.
