Michelle Black

Fueled by a vision for sustainable and equitable prosperity, Michelle thrives as an economic development professional with a forward-thinking approach. Her experience working at city, county, and regional levels has equipped her with a versatile skillset encompassing research, data analysis, program development, branding and marketing, and stakeholder engagement.

Michelle’s innovative mindset allows her to translate complex data into actionable insights, fostering clear communication for informed decision-making. Her excellent communication skills bridge the gap between industry leaders, investors, and community stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment that propels communities toward a thriving future. As a champion of innovation, Michelle embraces fresh approaches to economic development and inspires hope for the future, ensuring the communities she serves reach their full potential.

Real Results

Economic Development Strategy | City of Covington, KY | Serving as Project Manager for the City of Covington’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, Michelle guided the process from initiation to final delivery. She led strategic planning and scorecard development, facilitated stakeholder engagement through workshops and interviews, completed a detailed SWOT analysis, and conducted site opportunity assessments to identify catalytic redevelopment opportunities. The result was an actionable plan that built consensus, will help guide decision-making, and set a clear roadmap for future investment and growth.

Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Update | Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation | Michelle was an assistant project manager and project analyst in collaboration with the Southern Vermont team to develop the region’s comprehensive economic development strategy. The process included substantial data collection, design work, strategy work, as well as engagement sessions with policy leaders to build partnerships that will enable the implementation of strategies developed during the planning process.

Tax Increment Finance (TIF) | South Portland, ME | As Project Manager, Michelle led the development of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) application for the South Portland Housing Authority. In collaboration with the Camoin team, she guided the client through the State of Maine’s Affordable Housing TIF application process, resulting in the successful approval and award of TIF funds to support the Landry Heights project.

District Improvement Financing (DIF) | Mansfield, MA | As Project Manager, Michelle led a project assessing the creation of a District Improvement Financing (DIF) district in Mansfield, MA. She collaborated with the client and the Camoin Associates team to review and map potential district boundaries, develop and present educational materials at public meetings, conduct research, and build a revenue model to estimate future DIF proceeds.