Minnesota - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has announced Tarek Tomes, the former chief innovation officer for the city of St. Paul, as the state's new technology commissioner. Tomes' appointment comes three months after the departure of Johanna Clyborne. Tomes, who will start April 29, spent the majority of his 25-year career in information technology with a British telecommunications company.
California - Angelica Suarez will be the next president of Orange Coast College (OCC) following approval of her contract by the OCC District board of trustees. She is currently is the vice president of academic affairs for Southwestern College in Chula Vista. Suarez's appointment follows the retirement of former OCC President Dennis Harkins, who was the third-longest-serving president in the seven-decade history of the Costa Mesa community college. She will take over July 1 for interim President Kevin Ballinger, who will return to his role as vice president of instruction.
Georgia - Charles W. Penny, previously the city manager in Rocky Mount, N.C., where he retired in 2017 but continued to do work for the city in a consulting role, is the only finalist to be Statesboro's next city manager. He has more than 35 years of experience in city management. Penny and the city are in contract negotiations, but the mayor and council hope to take final hiring action May 7. After serving briefly as Rocky Mount's planning and development director, Penny was an assistant city manager there 16 years, from January 1995 through 2010. In Statesboro, he would succeed City Manager Randy Wetmore, who started in the role Sept. 1, 2016. Wetmore is set to retire May 31 after 40 years working for local governments in six states.
Colorado - Former mayor and longtime businesswoman Kathy (Rogers) Woods will assume the role as the newly-created economic development director for the city of Alamosa. The new department comes as the result of a public-private partnership between the city and the soon-to-be dissolved Alamosa County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC). Woods previously served on Alamosa City Council and as mayor for a combined total of 12 years. She most recently served as president and CEO of a savings and loan business since May 2016.
West Virginia - Jefferson County Development Authority Executive Director Nic Diehl has resigned to become executive director of the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport. Diehl is expected to begin May 22. Diehl will work with Airport Manager Neil Doran, who is expected to continue overseeing the day-to-day operation of the airport. The executive director position replaces a business-development manager job at the airport that Jack Brossart briefly filled. Brossart resigned in February after about five weeks on the job to take another position.
Washington - The city of Ridgefield has hired Louisa Garbo to serve as the city's Community Development Department director. Garbo fills a position which was previously held for 4 years by Jeff Niten, who in January 2019, was hired to serve as the city of Shelton's city manager. Garbo is a certified planner, a certified mediator and an accredited LEED green associate. She most recently served as the Community Development director for Kitsap County, WA, with prior work as a director of Planning in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, and as a city planner in Arizona for over a decade.
Maryland - The president and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), William H. Cole, announced that he was stepping down. Cole has served in this role since 2014. In May, Cole will be joining a Howard County-based consulting firm. The BDC Board has hired Colin D. Tarbert, currently the deputy chief of strategic alliances in the mayor's office, to replace Cole. Tarbert has extensive experience in economic and community development having served in various leadership roles in city government for 13 years.
Nevada - Austin Osborne has been selected as the next Storey County manager. Osborne will succeed County Manager Pat Whitten who announced his retirement earlier this year effective July 1, 2019. Osborne recently served as the county's human resources director, administrative officer and planning director. He started his career with the county in 2008 as a senior planner.
Maryland - Kevin C. Reigrut, the head of the Maryland Transportation Authority has resigned. Reigrut oversaw the state's eight toll facilities. He led the 1,700-employee agency since January 2017. Reigrut had previously worked as assistant secretary of operations for the Maryland Department of Transportation. Chief Operating Officer John O'Neill will serve as the acting executive director.
Virginia - Tarron Richardson, currently city manager of DeSoto, Texas, a Dallas suburb, was chosen to be the next city manager of Charlottesville. Richardson, who will assume his position May 13, has been the city manager of DeSoto since 2011 after two years as an assistant city manager. His prior experience also includes several senior roles with the city of Richmond. Richardson replaces Maurice Jones, who left in July to become the town manager of Chapel Hill, N.C.
Minnesota - Michael Seymour has been named by the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to serve as the next president of Alexandria Technical and Community College. The appointment will become effective July 1, 2019. Seymour has served higher education in Minnesota for 30 years, primarily at Minnesota State two-year colleges. He currently serves as vice president of academic and student affairs at Lake Superior College. Seymour will replace Laura Urban, who has served as the president of Alexandria Technical and Community College since 2014 and has announced her intention to retire.
Colorado - Jeffery Maxwell, a former Adams County Public Works director, began his position April 10 as the new Transportation Department director for Boulder County. Maxwell filled the vacancy created by the retirement of former director George Gerstle. Maxwell was the Adams County Public Works director from January 2014 to November 2018. He also has worked in the private sector, as a director and vice president of civil engineering firms.
Sports and entertainment venues contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. The activities associated with both appeal to millions of people. They generate revenue, attract retail establishments and provide benefits of all types to government. Because of this, sports and entertainment districts have become very "hot items" and every city wants at least one. 
Washington, D.C.- 
Florida- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has issued a 
Florida- 
New York- The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is expected to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a new tolling system in Manhattan. Congestion pricing is coming to Manhattan after state lawmakers approved the new tolling fees earlier this month as part of the state budget. The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority is inviting a 
Massachusetts- Worcester city officials will issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a long-term lease of a vacant hospital building. The 54,000-square-foot brick building sits next to the Worcester Senior Center. The site was last assessed at $9.2 million. City officials, with permission from the state, could extend a lease of up to 99 years for the property. 
Washington, D.C.- The grant application deadline is July 15 to apply for a piece of the $900 million funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants program. The Fiscal Year 2019 funding was announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to support road, bridge, transit, rail, port or intermodal projects. The maximum award will be $25 million, and no more than $90 million can be awarded to a single state for this round of grants. 
Virginia- The Fauquier County School Board has agreed to form a building committee to write a request for proposals (RFP) for the expansion of Cedar Lee Middle School in Bealeton. The expansion will include 10 to 12 classrooms, a second gym and possibly an expanded kitchen and office areas. The property adjacent to Cedar Lee will be purchased, there will be a geotechnical study and a plan will be devised for the project. 
New York- The fourth round of the 
Washington, D.C.- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced fiscal-year 2019 notices of funding opportunity for more than $1.7 billion in 
Baltimore; Edmonton, Alberta; Montgomery, Ala.; Racine, Wis.; and a San Diego County trade organization were announced last week by the Smart Cities Council as the five winners of the Smart Cities Readiness Challenge. Judges reviewed more than 200 projects. The winners were chosen from a pool of applicants from the U.S., Mexico and Canada. 
