This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, April 26, 2013 - Gov. Jay Nixon announced a changing-of-the-guard at the Department of Economic Development, the powerful agency in charge of divvying out economic development incentives.
Nixon, a Democrat, announced that Mike Downing would be serving as the “acting” director of the department. He will replace acting DED director Chris Pieper, who is rejoining Nixon’s staff as a senior policy and legal advisor.
Downing currently is the department's deputy director, as well as its director of business development.
According to a release from the governor’s office, Downing is a Kennett native who’s worked in the department under numerous governors from both parties. He also served as executive director for Missouri CORE Partnership, a non-profit economic development entity in mid-Missouri.
“With more than 30 years of service in the field of economic development, Mike is one of the most experienced and respected economic development officials in the country,” Nixon said in a statement. “Mike has worked closely with me to revitalize Missouri’s auto industry, strengthen our supplier network, and implement our Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth. These efforts have resulted in major investments by Ford and General Motors and thousands of jobs across our state."
Pieper served as acting director since DED director David Kerr left Nixon's administration in late 2011. Nixon unsuccessfully attempted to appoint St. Louis attorney Jason Hall as Kerr’s replacement, which led to Pieper being tapped to serve as acting director. The “acting” designation means that Downing won’t have to be confirmed by the Missouri Senate, said Nixon spokesman Scott Holste.
Nixon continued in his statement that Pieper has “done outstanding work at the Department of Economic Development, and I am very pleased that he is rejoining my senior staff.”
“Under his leadership, the department has recruited major investments to the state, signed billions of dollars in export agreements, and ramped up efforts to train Missouri workers for the jobs of the future," said Nixon, adding that Pieper played a role in a major economic development deal with Monsanto.
Nixon's staff says the change takes effect immediately.
