Anthony Wright, Director of Economic Development, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Anthony was appointed Director of Economic Development with the Newberry Administration in late August of 2007.  Anthony has worked with cities of all sizes across Kentucky in the areas of Information Technology, Finance and Municipal Bonding, Affordable and Public Housing and Community Development.  He has also participated in Community Visioning with the NewCities Institute.  He has been involved with economic development since 1995 and has worked on numerous projects ranging from the recruitment and relocation of large companies to those of entrepreneurial start-ups.  He sees the creative industries as an excellent way to add to the quality of life in a community and to help diversify the local economy through the growth of entrepreneurial businesses.

Anthony has a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.  He has completed course work for his international certification in economic development from Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute.  He is a member of the Urban League Young Professionals, Kentucky Association for Economic Development, and was selected as one of 44 Kentucky Young Leaders for a New Century.  He is a 1998 graduate of Leadership Lexington, where he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award.

A firm believer in community service, Anthony currently serves on the boards for the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Kentucky World Trade Center, Commerce Lexington, Lexington Housing Authority, Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness, Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Asia Center, Downtown Lexington Corporation, and the Partnership for Workforce Development.  A lover of music and live performance, he also sings in several church choirs.