M I D D L E T O W N O H I O

                                                                     ONE  DONHAM PLAZA

                                                                               MIDDLETOWN OH 45042

News Release

For immediate release

Contact: Ann Mort, Rmort@cinci.rr.com, 513-649-4506

October 30, 2008

CITY OF MIDDLETOWN HIRES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER

Denise Hamet of Mason, Ohio, has accepted the newly created position of Economic Development Program Manager for the City of Middletown. She will begin her work at Middletown after anticipated confirmation by the City Council at their November 4 meeting. Ms Hamet will work with existing businesses on retention programs, in addition to working with new ventures on economic development financing.

Ms Hamet was selected through interviews with a selection committee comprised of City of Middletown staff members and community business leaders.

She begins her work already familiar with Middletown and its economic development projects, having worked with an engineering design consultant to create the market-based real estate development guidelines for the City of Middletown’s East End/Renaissance Area.

Other recent projects include work on the Liberty Interchange Tax Increment Financing project and Cornerstone at Mayfield Development .

She served as 2007 president of the Commercial Real Estate Women of Greater Cincinnati organization and brings 15 years of public and private experience in real estate and development to her new position in Middletown.

An honors graduate of Arizona State University’s MBA program, she also holds a BS in Business Administration from University of Arizona and  Light Construction Development Management Certification from the University of California.

Ms Hamet said, “I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to be involved in the many facets of economic development in Middletown. Business retention and new development are equally important and I look forward to meeting the current business owners and managers as I work to bring in additional businesses to the City of Middletown.”

 Middletown City Manager Judy Gilleland said, “I am so glad to find a person who fits the needs of our city so well. Our economic development department is a great opportunity for creative, enthusiastic people who can bring new business to Middletown as we work with our already established businesses to build the mix of business and industry necessary to our growth as a city.”

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