Former Madison County economic development official heads to Racine

The City of Racine in Wisconsin recently announced the appointment of Walter Williams as the new Development Director.

The Common Council approved the appointment Tuesday, July 18.

Locally, Williams had previously served as the economic and community development director for the City of Edwardsville before moving into the role of community development coordinator for Madison County.

In an official statement, the City of Racine noted that Williams had a “remarkable track record of attracting over $2.4 billion in investments and fostering the creation of over 8,900 jobs throughout his career,” and that he would also bring “a wealth of expertise and vision to this critical role.”

The official statement further notes that, at the end of a rigorous selection process, Williams emerged as “the standout candidate to spearhead development growth.”

Also noted were Williams’ efforts in previous communities that resulted in attracting a variety of businesses to previous communities including Amazon, American Family Insurance, Clean Industries LLC, Sam’s Club warehouse, Tesla warehouse, Unilever, and many more.

Williams said he is “excited to serve as Development Director. The existing assets of the city make it a desirable location for developers and businesses. I look forward to contributing to the growth and prosperity for all in the City of Racine.”

The City of Racine’s Mayor Cory Mason said, “We are thrilled to welcome Walter Williams as Development Director for the City of Racine. His proven leadership and impressive accomplishments in attracting significant investment and creating thousands of jobs demonstrates his previous success in similar roles. We believe that his vast experience will be an incredible asset to the City of Racine as we continue to work toward a prosperous and vibrant future for our community.”