Today, Salt Lake City announced that Lara Fritts, Director of the City’s Department of Economic Development will leave her position effective August 2nd. Lara has accepted the role of President and CEO of Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP), the lead economic development organization serving the City of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico in Virginia.
“We are proud to welcome Lara as the organization’s new president and CEO,” said Buck Stinson, Senior Vice President of U.S. Card Partnerships at Capital One and Chair of the GRP Board. “She has a very strong background in consensus building, marketing communities and organizational development. She is a proven collaborator as well as a speaker and educator with diverse groups of stakeholders.”
Lara Fritts was appointed by Mayor Jackie Biskupski to lead the City’s economic development efforts in May 2016. Lara was initially tasked with fulfilling the mayor’s vision of creating a Cabinet-level Department of Economic Development, aligning the work of business development, the Redevelopment Agency, and the Salt Lake City Arts Council.
“In three short years, Lara Fritts has firmly established my vision for a world class economic development department to represent Utah’s Capital City,” said Mayor Jackie Biskupski. “Lara and her team have created opportunity for thousands of people, been instrumental in helping the City address critical issues, and have become part of the fabric of the region’s business development efforts. Lara Fritts’ expertise makes her a valuable asset for any organization and we wish her well as she embarks on her newest effort.”
In the past three year, the City’s Department of Economic Department has been responsible for creating over 9,000 jobs, nearly $1-billion in capital investment, and has attracted over two-dozen companies in Salt Lake City, including Amazon, Stadler Rail, UPS, and Post Consumer Brands. Last week, the International Economic Development Council announced that the City’s Economic Development Department had become an Accredited Economic Development Organization, a distinction only 64 other organizations worldwide have attained.
“While I am excited to be joining the team at GRP, I leave Salt Lake City with a heavy heart,” said Lara Fritts on her departure. “I am incredibly proud of the work we have done as a part of ‘Team Utah’ and I know this Department will continue to lead because of the high-caliber talent we have in place.”
Mayor Biskupski is expected to name an interim director prior to Lara Fritts’ departure.
About the GRP: The Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. (GRP) is the lead regional economic development organization for the City of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico in Virginia. GRP recruits companies from all over the globe which provide employment opportunities and taxable capital investment for the community. For more information, visit www.grpva.com.
About Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development: Formed in 2016, under the leadership of Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development is focused on building Salt Lake City as a vibrant, beautiful, prosperous, diverse, and authentic place – a place that is economically accessible to everyone. Known as the “Crossroads of the West,” Salt Lake City is strategically located for businesses to succeed. SLCDED works to streamline processes, provide excellent customer service, and offer an array of resources and services to recruit and retain businesses in the City, and ensure they have the tools to thrive.