Tom West is Director of Economic Development for the City of Covington, where he leads a team that’s responsible for growing an innovative and successful economy for all Covington residents through business attraction, retention and expansion programs, commercial real estate development deals, and administering the City’s zoning and historic preservation regulations. Under his leadership, the Department created a citywide economic development strategy, rewrote the City’s zoning code to make it easier and friendlier for businesses and residents, and implemented policies designed to assure a return on incentive investment for taxpayers. Since 2017, the City has attracted over $281,000,000 in investment, added 7,286 jobs, and retained 1,008 jobs.
During Tom’s tenure, the Department has received the International Economic Development Council recognition for the Small Business Incentive Program, the National Economic Development Best Practices Award from the American Planning Association, and the American Planning Association, Kentucky Chapter for the Outstanding Project of the Year for the master plan and development strategy for the 23-acre former IRS site.
Prior to joining the City, Tom was Senior Vice President of Thomas P. Miller & Associates, a national economic development consulting firm based in Indianapolis, IN; was Executive Director of the Covington Business Council; Executive Director of the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board; and is the former Executive Director for the Louisville Downtown Management District (Business Improvement District). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Master of Community Planning and Economic Development from the University of Cincinnati. Tom is accredited by the American Institute of Certified Planners, a member of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development Board of Directors and a member of the American Planning Association, KY Chapter.
