Economic development exec moves from Virginia to Tampa

Mitchel Allen, a former executive with the Greater Richmond Partnership in Virginia, has been named senior vice president at the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council.

Allen, 36, will oversee economic development at the agency. His first day was May 8.

According to a statement issued by the local economic development group, in his role as executive vice president of business development in Richmond his team attracted 13 new businesses bringing in 4,800 jobs, $1.5 billion in capital investments and 4.6 million square feet of commercial real estate to the city and local counties.

Craig Richard, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay EDC, says in the statement that Allen “has a strong track record of closing significant projects and meeting business development goals.”

Before joining Richmond’s regional group, he had worked at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council where the statement says he led several recruitment projects including bringing a $180 million Nike facility. And before that, he worked for the city of Chandler Arizona.

He is a graduate of Arizona State University and is working on his MBA at the University of Denver.

In a 2021 press release announcing his hiring in Richmond, he is referred to as Allen-Rivera. He is also Allen-Rivera in at least one promotional guide issued by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Allen-Rivera is his legal name, but he uses Allen for business and public purposes.

The Tampa Bay EDC is the designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City.