Mayor Lee Brand and City Manager Wilma Quan today announced that Lupe Perez has been hired as Director of Economic Development for the City of Fresno.
“This is a key position for City Hall and I think we are incredibly fortunate to have someone as competent and well-respected as Lupe to lead our economic development efforts. Her expertise in development is perfectly suited with the Administration’s mission to attract new businesses to Fresno and helping existing ones grow.” said City Manager Quan.
Perez had previously served as the City of Fresno’s Downtown Revitalization Manager since June 2014. She was involved in advancing the Mayor’s downtown revitalization efforts, facilitated development, business attraction, and retention, addressed unique downtown design and land use issues, planned events and festivals on the Fulton Street and kept the public engaged in the revitalization process.
“I’ve worked with Lupe since the day I first started serving as a Councilmember and have always found her to be talented and conscientious with excellent people skills and an equally impressive reputation in the local business community. I’m especially pleased that Lupe shares my vision for job creation and is ready to hit the ground running to help us build on our momentum and continue to improve the quality of life for everyone in Fresno.” added Mayor Brand.
Prior to coming to City Hall, Lupe spent 16 years working for the former City of Fresno Redevelopment Agency in various capacities including Project Coordinator and Project Manager. There she was involved in the Agency’s downtown revitalization efforts through business attraction and retention, facilitating development, land acquisition, relocation, and property disposition. She also successfully cultivated exceptional relationships within the community to promote and expand economic development opportunities.
“The EDC is pleased to join the City of Fresno in welcoming its new Director of Economic Development Lupe Perez to the team. I have been working closely with Lupe for the past 10 years and I know she will bring her many years of experience and enthusiasm to the position,” said Lee Ann Eager, President, and CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation. “I am looking forward to many more years of working together to ensure that Fresno is the perfect place to start and grow a business.”