Tracey Nichols is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Cleveland, Ohio.  She joined the City of Cleveland in February, 2008 after serving for four years as Cuyahoga County’s Assistant Director for Economic Development. Working with her team at the county, she created several new programs including the M.A.D.E. in Cuyahoga County Loan program for manufacturers, New Product Development/Entrepreneurship Program partnering with MAGNET, the Commercial Redevelopment Fund, Destination Cleveland and the Arts and Culture as Economic Development (ACE) Grant Program.

Nichols has also been active in the area of Brownfield Redevelopment and under her leadership Cuyahoga County has been viewed as a national leader in Brownfield redevelopment. From 2004 to 2007, the County team’s programs have won the National Association of Counties (NACO) Arts and Culture Award, three NACO Achievement Awards, the National Association of County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) Award of Excellence in Economic Development, Inside Business’ Economic Development Award for Sustainable Projects, the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Award of Excellence, and the USEPA Region V Award for Exceptional Leadership in Brownfield Redevelopment.

Nichols has a degree in Business Management, concentrating in Accounting and Finance, from Case Western Reserve University and has the National Development Council’s certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional. As a member of Mayor Frank Jackson’s cabinet she is working with the Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio, to create new programs that help local Cleveland businesses grow and attract new businesses to the region.