Ramsey County names Josh Olson director of Community & Economic Development
Ramsey County has named Josh Olson the director of Community & Economic Development. Olson was selected through a competitive hiring process that began in January.
Ramsey County Community & Economic Development’s focus is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families by maintaining the existing housing stock, expanding homeownership and affordable housing opportunities, installing safe infrastructure, remediating brownfield sites, redeveloping under-utilized properties, strengthening businesses, navigating economic development resources, and encouraging job growth. The department director is responsible for managing an annual budget of $25 million and a 14-person team.
“I am thrilled Josh Olson has accepted the director of Community & Economic Development role,” said Economic Growth & Community Investment Deputy County Manager Kari Collins. “Josh is community focused and has demonstrated a deep commitment to building strong partnerships, and innovative solutions, making him the ideal candidate to continue to evolve and strengthen the department's impact on our community for years to come."
Joining the county in 2009, Olson has served in a variety of progressive leadership roles, most recently as interim Community & Economic Development director since February 2024. Prior to that, Olson was the department’s deputy director. While in these leadership roles, he drove forward the RiversEdge project, an $800 million public-private partnership revitalizing downtown Saint Paul’s riverfront, and oversaw the deployment of $37 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to create and preserve deeply affordable housing countywide.
Previously, Olson also served as redevelopment manager for the county-led redevelopment of the 427-acre Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, now commonly known as Rice Creek Commons, and as a project manager for county transit corridors.
Olson has extensive knowledge of working in community development, having also worked for the Douglas County, Colorado and the city of Arvada community development departments. Olson holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado, Denver and a Bachelor of Arts from Valparaiso University, Indiana.
Active in the local community, Olson is a member of the American Planning Association and the Economic Development Association of Minnesota. He also provides ongoing executive leadership to the Public Development and Infrastructure Council, a national product council of the Urban Land Institute.
“I am truly honored to step fully into this role and continue working alongside such an amazing team and dedicated partners,” Olson said. “Together, we will build on the progress we’ve made and continue to advance the critical housing and economic work that will create lasting change and opportunity for our community.”
Olson starts as the director of Community & Economic Development on Monday, April 14.