Brad Gustafson has been appointed as the Economic and Community Development Director for St. Louis County, according to a March 31 announcement.
The appointment is significant as it brings an experienced leader to oversee key initiatives that impact housing, redevelopment, broadband access, and economic growth in the county.
Gustafson has worked for the county since 2019 and most recently served as the Planning Manager within the Community Development Division. He has played a leading role in managing the county’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority efforts, as well as programs funded by Housing and Urban Development and Community Development Block Grants. In addition, he coordinated projects aimed at expanding broadband access and managed film incentive economic development programs.
“Brad has tremendous enthusiasm and passion for economic and community development, and I am excited to see all that he will accomplish in this new role,” said County Administrator Kevin Gray. “He is a proven leader with tremendous technical and communication skills, along with strong institutional knowledge of federal and state processes and public financing.”
Gustafson said his motivation for applying was clear: “I love what I do and enjoy having an impact on people’s lives and helping them succeed. We have an amazing team in Economic and Community Development and I look forward to working together to continue to make St. Louis County a place where everybody thrives.” He also credited his mentor by saying, “Darren has been an amazing mentor to me, and I’m excited to continue working with him and our entire team.”
The selection of Gustafson signals continuity in leadership while emphasizing experience with both local development issues such as housing initiatives as well as broader efforts like infrastructure expansion.
