Longtime Wilmington Economic Development Official Departs City Government

Wilmington DE

26 April, 2022

1:56 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Wilmington: April 25, 2022 Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki announced today that Jeff Flynn, the City's longest-tenured economic development official, has departed City government to take a position in the private sector as Vice President at Applied Bank, where he will be responsible for commercial and real estate lending. "Jeff has been an outstanding professional and the City has benefitted greatly from his time with us," said Mayor Purzycki. "We thank Jeff for his service to our City, its residents, and businesses, and wish him and his family much success and happiness moving forward." Jeff Flynn started his City career with the Economic Development Office in 2001 during the Administration of former Mayor James M. Baker and served with then-Economic Development Director Dick Pryor. Jeff was initially the City's Brownfield Program Manager. He was appointed Deputy Director of Economic Development in 2008 and became Director in 2015. "I am very grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve the City I love during this time of dynamic growth," said Flynn. "I have learned a great deal during my time with the City and am proud of our many collective accomplishments. I extend my thanks to Mayor Purzycki and Chief of Staff Washington, my talented staff, and all of my colleagues, both within and without City government, for the enduring support provided." Jeff has served three Mayoral administrations over the past 20 years, managed $2 billion in private investment, coordinated the development and expansion of the City's downtown residential district, and redeveloped countless former industrial sites in Wilmington's neighborhoods such as the former Harper Thiel Electroplating facility on Miller Road, which is today the home of Wilmington Brew Works, Metro Pizza, and other new businesses, as well as the South Wilmington Wetlands, which will soon be officially dedicated as the Southbridge Wilmington Wetlands Park. Jeff reorganized the Office of Economic Development and forged beneficial partnerships with DNREC, DelDOT, True Access Capital, WEDCO, and Delaware Prosperity Partnership. Mayor Purzycki said Sean Park, who is Deputy Director of the City's Office of Economic Development, will have lead responsibility for the office and will be the main contact for Wilmington's economic development activities in the wake of Jeff Flynn's departure. Sean can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by calling the City's 311 Customer Service Center. This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author's own.