City of Riverside Names Miranda Evans Economic Development Manager
Published: 8/29/2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Aug. 29, 2024
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Names Miranda Evans Economic Development Manager
Accomplished professional also has experience in city planning and administration
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The City of Riverside has named Miranda Evans as its new Economic Development Manager, adding to the city team an accomplished professional with more than a decade of experience in economic development, city planning, and administration. She starts Friday. (8/30)
Evans most recently served as Economic Development Manager for the City of Chula Vista, where she significantly advanced the city's economic development initiatives. Under her leadership, Chula Vista’s economic development department earned seven national and international awards in economic development excellence for planning and programming, a bi-lingual business resources guide, COVID-19 economic recovery programming and small business marketing.
“Miranda Evans is an award-winning economic development professional, and we are excited to add her to our team,” Director of Community and Economic Development Jennifer Lilley said.
Evans led the development and implementation of Chula Vista’s award-winning economic development strategies, including “We Built THIS” and “Elev8 Chula Vista,” which were created around the principles of expanding business support, improving collaboration and outreach, strengthening economic vitality, and driving innovation and sustainability.
She played a pivotal role in assembling $96 million in funding for the design-build of the first city-owned Class “A” office building, a 168,000-square-foot, multi-use structure. That development brought to fruition the inaugural phase of the city’s three-decade vision of creating a University-Innovation District.
“I am both thrilled and humbled by the opportunity to bring my expertise and passion to Riverside and further the city’s vision for economic growth,” Evans said. “I look forward to joining the team, and I’m eager to drive innovation and development in Riverside.”
She earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University, a master’s degree in Political Psychology from Arizona State University, a graduate certificate in City Management from Villanova University, a professional certificate in Leading Smart Communities from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and City Planning from SDSU.
Evans is a member of the International City Management Association, the International Economic Development Council, and the California Association for Local Economic Development. She has been recognized as one of 25 Emerging Leaders by SDSU’s College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts and was recently named one of 10 Rising Aztec Alumni. She recently concluded a five-year term as Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission in the City of Lemon Grove.
