JEDCO hires two new Economic Development Specialists

The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) is pleased to welcome two new Economic Development Specialists to the organization. Annalisa Kelly and Trevor Acy will be working closely with local businesses to enhance the economic climate in Jefferson Parish.

Annalisa fills a position dedicated exclusively to the City of Kenner through a cooperative endeavor agreement intended to create and retain jobs in the city, as well as to attract private investment to the area. This is the sixth consecutive year that JEDCO and Kenner have entered into the agreement, a strong indication of a successful partnership. In addition to carrying out business retention and attraction efforts in Kenner, Annalisa will be responsible for providing economic development services and expertise pertaining to the realization of the city’s economic development strategy, Kenner 2030. Some of Annalisa’s projects will be focused on the redevelopment of airport buyout properties, Laketown development and the continued revitalization of Rivertown.

Prior to joining the JEDCO team, Annalisa worked at the State of Louisiana’s Office of Community Development, where she managed the administration of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds. She worked with a variety of homeowners, contractors, engineers and government agencies to ensure projects were successfully funded and in compliance with FEMA requirement. She also oversaw all contractor fraud and abandonment projects.  Before she worked with the State of Louisiana, Annalisa coordinated architectural salvage and preservation projects at Rebuilding Together New Orleans and managed government relations at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY. She currently serves as Community Engagement Chair on the board of trustees for Friends of Lafitte Corridor, a non-profit dedicated to the advocacy and programming of the future Lafitte Greenway in New Orleans.

“I am thrilled to join the JEDCO team and to work on the multitude of exciting projects in the City of Kenner and across Jefferson Parish as a whole,” says Annalisa. “I am very much looking forward to being a part of the economic development of Jefferson Parish, and to specifically work closely with businesses in Kenner to ensure their continued success.”

As an Economic Development Specialist, Trevor is tasked with the implementation of JEDCO’s award-winning Business Retention & Expansion Program to businesses throughout Jefferson Parish. Through this program, business owners are paired with resources needed to realize their growth objectives. Trevor will also work closely with business recruitment prospects, providing the data, site information and resources necessary to establish successful operations in Jefferson Parish.

Previously a grant manager with Waggoner Engineering, Inc., Trevor developed and implemented the State of Louisiana’s Disaster-Community Development Block Grant Program for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. He managed over $200 million in economic development grant projects for housing, infrastructure, incentive programs and impact studies. Trevor handled grant projects for the VA & LSU Teaching Hospitals, Crescent Park, the New Orleans Public Library branches and the Sewerage & Water Board Roads Program. No stranger to JEDCO’s work in the community, Trevor even had an opportunity to work on the Business Innovation Center’s CDBG grant application. Before Trevor worked with Waggoner Engineering, he provided site selection for McCallum Sweeney Consulting. Currently, Trevor is completing coursework to become an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Certified Economic Developer.

“I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to join the impressive team at JEDCO,” Trevor says. “I will be fortunate to be part of the exciting business growth occurring in Jefferson Parish. As an Economic Development Specialist, I look forward to connecting our businesses with the resources that allow them to succeed.”

“We are excited to welcome both Trevor and Annalisa to JEDCO,” says Jerry Bologna, Executive Director of JEDCO. “As a premiere economic development organization, JEDCO strives to attract high-caliber employees with the capacity to strengthen our team. Both Annalisa and Trevor bring unique experiences and valuable expertise to the organization, making them the ideal candidates for their new roles in the economic development department.”