On Nov. 1, the city of Bothell welcomed Jeanie Ashe as its new economic development manager.

Ashe has 15 years of experience in economic development, public infrastructure grants and loans, tourism and business retention, expansion and attraction efforts.

Ashe comes to Bothell from the city of Lake Stevens, where she was the economic development manager. She also has economic development experience for the Washington Department of Commerce and the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

According to a press release, Ashe is excited to be in Bothell and describes the combination of small businesses, technology companies and higher education as “an economic development dream with a very strong team.”

“I’m really looking forward to connecting with the business community,” she said in the release.

As economic development manager for Bothell, Ashe will work cooperatively with both long-time and future business owners in the city. The manager will play a major role in revitalization efforts downtown and elsewhere in Bothell by facilitating the private purchase of city-owned land and fostering development consistent with the community’s vision, the release states.

In recognition of the city’s financial challenges, the economic development manager position is a limited-term position for 14 months. Near the end of 2019, the city will assess the successes of its economic development program and make a recommendation to the City Council for 2020 and beyond.