Santa Cruz Economic Development Director Steps Down

Santa Cruz, Calif.'s economic development director, Peter Koht, has left the department, which is the successor agency to the city's former redevelopment agency, after four and a half years.

Koht left to work on expanding OpenCounter, open-source software aimed at helping people navigate the process of starting a new business, according to Good Times, a local newspaper.

His last day was July 12. His position has not yet been filled, according to the department's redevelopment manager, Julie Hendee.

Koht began working for the Bay Area city's redevelopment agency in 2008, before it was eliminated in early 2012 along with all redevelopment agencies throughout the state.

Following the 2012 dissolution, first proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Santa Cruz's successor agency became known as the Economic Development Department.

Koht has been credited with being instrumental in increasing internet access in the city and using technology to help the city improve. For example, he used social media to connect residents with city leadership to help solve the city's budget crisis.

Some of the department's current projects include the Tannery Arts Center — a reuse project that will turn a center that closed in 2002 into housing, studio space for artists — a performing arts center; a project to redevelop and expand the existing Metropolitan Transit District site on Pacific Avenue; and the construction of the National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

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California
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