York names new economic development director

The city of York has hired a part-time economic development director to help the city grow and attract business.

Karen Jones, who has held volunteer and paid roles in community revitalization for more than two decades, mostly with the city of Leesburg, Va., will begin work April 20.

“I am passionate about this,” said Jones, 77, who said she moved to York about six months ago because she has two sons in Charlotte. “The opportunity to help with the town revitalization is just extraordinary.”

Jones, who has a degree in speech pathology from the University of Maryland, said she spent 25 years working with downtown redevelopment in Leesburg, mostly as a volunteer.

She was recruited and was employed with that city as a community development manager for about two years.

She said she and her husband also operated a real estate development and brokerage business for 25 years in Leesburg.

“I picked York when I made the decision to move South because it was a small historic community with an active downtown,” she said. “It has a lot of focus on heritage and the historic district.”

The York City Council created the 20-hour-a-week economic development director job in its budget last fall. The city budgeted $19,000 for a half-year of the position and waited until this spring to fill the job to reduce the impact on its budget.

City Council member John Shiflet had argued for the creation of the job, saying the city needs to devote more attention to growing jobs and attracting businesses.

“We interviewed several candidates, and were very impressed that Karen has really done her homework,” Shiflet said. “She was quite knowledgeable about the city, she has met a lot of people and become involved.”

Shiflet said Jones has held several jobs that relate to economic development. “There’s an awful lot we are asking her to do,” he said. “We are excited about getting this started and we feel like it will be a good thing for the city.”

The city had two previous economic development directors, Bill Boyd and Mel Ebersold, but the role has not been filled for several years.

City Manager Charles Helms said Jones will start by working on the city’s website and will coordinate to help the downtown farmers market with a grand opening on May 9.

Jones, who has joined the Yorkville Historical Society and York’s First Presbyterian Church, said she’s impressed with the community’s commitment to its history.

“I am really eager to try to help York to the point where it becomes a tourist destination, that people really want to come here because of the heritage, the shopping, the parks and trails that we will build,” she said.

Before she come to York, Jones said she knew growth would eventually come to this area because of the natural growth along Interstate 77 in eastern York County and the widened S.C. 5 west toward Interstate 85.

“I would like to see York in a position to deal with this growth, to encourage rooftops,” she said. “But it’s got to be gradual.”

In Leesburg, Jones said she worked with the Main Street program, developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to serve as an economic development tool for small towns that have lost employers and jobs. The community applies for the program and follows certain steps to create viable downtown communities.

“I am excited that the city of York has stepped up with this position to help make the city what it can be,” she said.

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "York names new economic development director."