COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – It’s a changing of the guard for the Branch County Economic Growth Alliance.
Alliance President and Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker announced on Wednesday that Audrey Tappenden will take over as the Alliance’s Executive Director effective July 1, 2023.
Tappenden will replace Lisa Miller who has worked in the position since January of 2009.
Tappenden is a graduate of Coldwater High School and Grand Valley State University. She was hired in the fall of 2018 as the assistant to the Economic Development Director and was quickly promoted to the Economic Development Coordinator/Main Street Director.
Miller told the Downtown Development Authority on Wednesday morning she was comfortable with turning the reins over to Tappenden.
D.D.A. Board Chair Michael Caywood thanked Miller for all of her years of service.
According to a news release that was issued by the B.C.E.G.A., Tappenden will continue to serve as the Coldwater Main Street Director and assist Branch County communities with downtown redevelopment projects. She indicated she will be getting some help.
Tappenden’s recent collaborations include working with developers and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to secure $1,000,000 of funding for downtown redevelopment projects, fundraising for the relocation and expansion of the Children’s Museum of Branch County, and leading the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in its application, and acceptance to, the Michigan Main Street program.
The Branch County Economic Growth Alliance was created in 1989 to oversee economic development for Branch County.
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