The Department of Economic and Community Development announced that Nancy Williams has been named Tennessee Main Street Program director, leading the initiative that provides assistance to communities in revitalizing their downtown and central business districts.
“Vibrant downtowns and central business districts are the backbone of our state’s economy,” Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “Nurturing growth and development in our historic districts not only fosters job creation, it signifies our overall economic strength as a state. Nancy brings decades of experience and a large network of relationships to her position within our department that will be valuable assets to our Tennessee Main Street communities throughout the state.”
Ms. Williams brings more than thirty years of experience in communication, community development, historic preservation and association management to TNECD’s Rural Development team. Most recently, she was Main Street Program Director at the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County, which included serving as director of the Downtown Franklin Association.
A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Ms. Williams’ role as Main Street Program Director for Downtown Franklin has helped Franklin achieve national recognition. In May 2012, Franklin was ranked No. 4 on Livability.com‘s Best Places to Visit for Historic Preservation. Recently, Travel + Leisure Magazine named Franklin eighth best town in the nation and in April 2014, Garden & Gun magazine named Franklin the “Best Southern Town” following a online readers’ poll.
Ms. Williams replaces Todd Morgan who is leaving state government to become director of Preservation Field Services for Knox Heritage and the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance.