What is your name?

Stephanie Nelson

Where do you work and what is your job title?

Director of Grants and Marketing for the City of Richmond, KY

How long have you been in economic development?

15 years in different roles

How did you get started in economic development?

I began my career in non-profit association work and had the opportunity to join the Kentucky Association for Economic Development in 2010.

Tell us how your community is great.

Richmond checks all the boxes.

☑️Fastest Growing City in Kentucky

☑️High Quality of Life

☑️Available Housing

☑️Close Proximity to Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati

☑️Interstate I-75

☑️Eastern Kentucky University

☑️Build Ready Land

☑️Business Friendly

☑️Available Utilities

☑️Multiple Parks and Outdoor Space, Including a new 280 Acre Regional Sports Complex

How has being a member of SEDC benefited you?

The networking is the strongest selling point of being a member of SEDC. It is a benefit to discuss issues and solutions facing our community. Members always share ideas that help us fix and create new policies that nurture a business friendly environment.

What is something you/your organization has accomplished that you are most proud of?

In August, we began our re-branding process and built a new website focused on site selection. Previously, the economic development team only had a few pages on the city website. Check us out, www.selectrichmond.com!

Where is your favorite spot in your community and why?

Our outdoor parks are amazing but Lake Reba Park and Gibson Bay Golf Course is my favorite place to relax. I spend a lot of my free time on the golf course.

What is a current podcast or book you would recommend?

Currently, I have been reading up on the history of Richmond and Madison County, Kentucky. Grants writing is a busy task and knowing our roots is very important when writing narratives.

What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

Any Netflix Documentary

What is something you do in your free time?

Golf

When you were younger, what did you envision yourself being when you grew up?

I always knew I wanted to help people and not be someone who "clocks in and clocks out." I started out wanting to go to nursing school but ended up liking statistics and figuring out to solve organizational issues. I can say that my degree in Public Administration with a human resources and policy focus has helped me get to this point in my career. I'm definitely a research nerd.

Who is on your Economic Development Mount Rushmore?

This is a tough question. I would have say Alexander Hamilton or Henry Ford. Alexander Hamilton built our financial system that ultimately fostered manufacturing in the United States. Henry Ford is known for being an industrialist and for creating moving assembly lines. Both were critical in helping create jobs, which is one of our main goals as economic developers.