Some could say Chad Williams got his inspiration for urban planning and economic development from his childhood.
He grew up in public housing in Washington, D.C.
Today, Williams is the executive director of the West North Avenue Development Authority — a new, independent economic development agency in Maryland that coordinates state and city planning.
The authority provides grants and loans for housing, economic and transportation activities in Baltimore City and works with neighborhood associations on community design plans. Williams reports to the governor, state lawmakers and a board of appointed officials. Before that, he was a member of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and co-chaired a Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission committee.
Williams has degrees from the University of the District of Columbia in political science with concentrations in philosophy, urban policy and community planning, and from Rutgers University Center for Government Services in public housing and municipal redevelopment.
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