For Immediate Release: 11/17/2014 4:32 pm
Worcester, MA (November 17, 2014) - City Manager Edward Augustus is pleased to announce that he has appointed Acting Chief Development Officer Michael Traynor to the role on a permanent basis.
Traynor, who has served in the City of Worcester Law Department since 1988, has been the acting head of the City's economic development efforts since January. In that time, the city has moved forward with a number of important development projects, including the continued momentum of the CitySquare project, the redevelopment of the Voke Lofts, the rehabilitation of the former Telegram & Gazette building into a state-of-the-art downtown campus for Quinsigamond Community College and the City's acquisition of the former state courthouse on Main Street.
"I am delighted to continue Worcester's positive economic momentum by naming Mike Traynor as the City's permanent Chief Development Officer," said Augustus. "Mike is a talented negotiator with a wealth of experience and strong relationships with all the key players in the region and I’m sure he’ll be a great success."
Before moving to Executive Office of Economic Development, Traynor was the Deputy City Solicitor. In that role, he was intimately involved in all of the City's major development projects. Traynor drafted contracts and worked with key stakeholders on numerous efforts, including the creation of the City's Downtown/Theater District Urban Renewal Plan, the CSX Expansion, Gateway Park, the Med City Project and the Canal District Streetscape Improvements project.
"A strong Worcester will have an 18-hour-a-day downtown surrounded by vibrant neighborhoods, and we are well on our way to achieving that goal," Traynor said. "I’m thrilled to be asked to continue the work of bringing that vision to fruition."
Traynor’s appointment is official as of today.
