Provo mayor names Dixon Holmes economic development chief

PROVO (Deseret News) — Mayor John Curtis named Dixon Holmes to the newly created position of deputy mayor of economic development Wednesday, eliminating the position of director of economic development.

Curtis said the move is a strong statement that the city's economic development will be one of its primary interests.

"Over the last few weeks, it's become clear to me that one of the most important things we can do to address our economic situation is to focus on economic development," Curtis said.

With the change, Holmes, who has been the city economic development assistant director for the past 10 years, will move, along with other staff members, from the Wells Fargo Building on University Avenue into office space in the Provo City Center. The move will bring economic development directly under the oversight of the mayor's office and eliminate rent now being paid for the private office space.

The change ends the search for a replacement for Economic Development Director Leland Gamette, who retired last year.

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