The City of Noblesville has hired a new economic development specialist, Sarah Reed, 34. She replaces Courtney Zaugg, who left earlier this year.
“I feel like I’m already part of a good team. They’re great people to work with,” Reed said.
Reed said she came to Noblesville because of its history and opportunities.
“It has a different history than the other communities in Hamilton County,” she said. “Everything isn’t being new or created from scratch. It’s a good advantage and selling point.”
Reed said her duties include business visits, workforce development and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the school district.
“I am really excited to have Sarah on the economic development team. She will focus on existing business retention and expansion along with business attraction project submissions. Sarah’s skill set is strong and balanced with both a planning and economic development background,” Economic Development Director Judi Johnson said.
A native of Freemont, Ohio, Reed graduated from a high school and a technical high school before attending the University of Cincinnati.
“I thought I was going to be an engineer or architect. In my second year at University of Cincinnati I discovered planning. Being from a small town I had never heard of planning before,” she said. “I looked into it and made the switch.”
Reed entered the urban planning program and was hired fulltime by Jacobs Engineering, where she worked with its co-op program during school. She was transferred to the Indianapolis office after working out of Cincinnati. After six years with Jacobs, Reed worked for a consulting firm that wrote zoning ordinances.
Prior to starting for the City of Noblesville on Feb. 18, Reed spent the past two and a half years in the Westfield economic and community development. While working in Westfield, Reed said she spent 95 percent of her time planning and 5 percent on economic development.
“Here, it’s completely (the reverse),” she said.
Reed is learning about the community, processes and ordinances.
“Insight will help me give better locations and solutions for economic development,” she said. “People with a planning background tend to look at things more regionally – come to the table with a different perspective on land use.”
She also is working to achieve her certified economic developer title through the University of Oklahoma. She has completed the two of the four years in the program.
“Continued training is a goal of mine,” she said.
