ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

City of Newport, KY

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The Economic Development & Public Relations Coordinator serves as the City's lead communications and public relations representative, building and protecting the City's brand across press, broadcast, social, and digital platforms. The position serves as a primary media contact for the City and must be comfortable and effective representing the City in print, online, television, and radio interviews and public appearances. The Coordinator plans and executes public events, leads community and media outreach, and develops public relations and promotional strategies that highlight the City, its neighborhoods, businesses, development activity, and community initiatives. The position also performs an active economic development and business relations role. The Coordinator works with the City Manager and Assistant City Manager to support prospective businesses, developers, property owners, and development partners; assists with the coordination and advancement of development and business opportunities; and serves as a liaison between businesses and City departments. The Coordinator maintains relationships with existing Newport businesses to identify needs, address concerns, support business retention and expansion, and connect businesses with appropriate City programs, resources, and partner organizations. The position provides direct support to the City Manager and Assistant City Manager on economic development initiatives, strategic projects, intergovernmental relations, public communications, and other assigned responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works with the City Manager and Assistant City Manager on economic development initiatives involving prospective businesses, developers, property owners, investors, and development partners;
• Serves as a point of contact and liaison for prospective and existing businesses, helping coordinate communication with City departments and connecting businesses with available programs, resources, and partner organizations;
• Develops and maintains relationships with existing Newport businesses to support business retention and expansion, identify emerging needs or concerns, and strengthen communication between the business community and the City;
• Assists prospective businesses and development partners in navigating City processes and coordinates with appropriate departments regarding zoning, permitting, infrastructure, incentives, redevelopment, and other development-related matters;
• Supports business recruitment and attraction efforts, including responding to business inquiries, coordinating site visits, preparing information and promotional materials, and assisting with business openings and announcements;
• Maintains relationships with commercial property owners, brokers, business organizations, economic development agencies, and other partners to identify development and business opportunities;
• Coordinates ribbon cuttings, grand openings, business announcements, and other promotional activities in partnership with businesses and community organizations;
• Represents the City with economic development and business organizations, including the Newport Business Council, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, regional economic development organizations, and other appropriate agencies and organizations;
• Supports administration and promotion of the Business Facade Grant program with ReNewport and other economic development, business assistance, and incentive programs as assigned;
• Assists with the preparation, administration, compliance, and reporting associated with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), grants, development incentives, and other economic development programs as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field; OR
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with businesses, developers, public officials, community organizations, the media, and the general public;
• Demonstrated organizational and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, events, and priorities;
• Ability and willingness to represent the City professionally in public settings, meetings, media interactions, and community events.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education, internship, volunteer, or professional experience related to communications, marketing, public relations, event coordination, economic development, business relations, community engagement, or local government;
• Experience developing content for social media, websites, newsletters, press releases, or other public-facing communications;
• Experience assisting with the planning, promotion, or coordination of public events, community activities, business events, or similar programs;
• Experience or familiarity working with businesses, developers, property owners, community organizations, or other external partners;
• Familiarity with local government operations, economic development, redevelopment, or business retention and attraction efforts;
• Familiarity with grant programs, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), or other public-sector funding and economic development tools;
• Familiarity with local, state, or federal legislative and governmental processes;
• Public speaking, media, on-camera, or other public-facing communication experience.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Standard office environment with frequent local travel to meeting sites.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• General knowledge of marketing, public relations, media relations, social media, and public communication practices;
• General knowledge of event planning, promotion, coordination, and execution;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with businesses, developers, public officials, community organizations, the media, and the general public;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, businesses, developers, community organizations, and governmental partners;
• General understanding of, or ability to learn, economic development, business retention and attraction, redevelopment, and business assistance programs;
• General understanding of, or ability to learn, municipal government, zoning, permitting, infrastructure, and development processes;
• Ability to organize and coordinate multiple projects, events, deadlines, and priorities;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and represent the City professionally in public, business, and media settings.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid vehicle operators license and reliable transportation;
• Must be bondable.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS:

• Ability to work at a computer workstation for extended periods;
• Ability to frequently travel to locations both within and outside the City;
• Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with intermittent standing or stooping and occasional outdoor events and site visits as required;
• Frequent evening and weekend work required for events and media commitments (approximately 4-6 per month);
• Ability to lift 25-50 pounds as required.