Olson Joins EDA as Executive Director

Fitzsimons, a former U.S. Army hospital, is being redeveloped into a $4.3 billion medical, research and biotech center. It will include the University of Colorado's Health Science Center, a Children's Hospital and very likely a new Veteran's Administration's hospital.

"Career decisions are seldom easy," Olson wrote in his resignation letter, obtained by GlobeSt.com. "This was especially true as I considered the huge gratifications that have come from my years of work on Fitzsimons redevelopment—and the potential that lies ahead as redevelopment continues and as the Fitzsimons biotech cluster expands. At several points in my career it has been my good fortune to move into a new position where I can make a personal difference of tangible civic benefit. This was my motivation in taking on the Fitzsimons project in 1995, and it is now my motivation to move into a key role in bringing forward new federal economic development initiatives to impact our region and nation."

He begins his new position Feb. 18, 2004.

In his new position, he will oversee the federal government's economic development programs within a 10-state region. "In addition, I will be a resource within the Department of Commerce for university/technology based economic development initiatives and for programs to redevelop closing military sites," Olson says.

The Denver Regional office, one of six EDA regional offices, oversees EDA's operations in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

Olson holds a master of public administration degree from Harvard University, a master of architecture and urban design from Washington University, and a bachelor of architecture from North Dakota State University.

EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.