GREEN RIVER — The Green River URA/Main Street Agency announces that it has hired Jennie Melvin as the new URA/Main Street agency administrator.

Following the resignation of Rod Ness, Ms. Melvin served as interim administrator for approximately four months. “We are very pleased that Ms. Melvin has agreed to accept the position. She has demonstrated familiarity with the program, she was raised in the area, and she is enthusiastic and committed to the success of the program,” says board Chair Nina Kessner. “She coordinated two major downtown events, took over scheduling and set up of the Farmers’ Markets, and ensured that all required reporting was submitted on a timely and consistent basis.”

Ms. Melvin has been employed by the City of Green River for four and a half years. In 2009, she was a Main Street Administrative Assistant. In 2011, she was promoted to the position of Planning and Zoning Technician. Since that time, she has filled in intermittently for the URA/Main Street Administrator position when the position was vacant.

In the course of working on a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding between the Agency and the City of Green River, the board determined to offer Ms. Melvin the position in lieu of seeking local or regional candidates based on her demonstrated ability to perform essential duties. “I’ve said throughout our work on the Memorandum and job search that the board wanted to hire the best possible candidate for the job, and I believe we have fulfilled that intention,” said Kessner. “We strongly considered conducting a formal outward search, but based on Ms. Melvin’s performance and commitment over the past four months in addition to her experience, we feel that we were fortunate to already have the best candidate.”

Ms. Melvin says that she is very excited to jump in and devote her full efforts and attention to the Urban Renewal/Main Street Program. “I believe in the power of the Main Street Program and have seen firsthand what the program can do for economic development. I am looking forward to making real progress for the revitalization of the downtown, and for Green River as a whole,” she says. Ms. Melvin defines the first priority of the Program as volunteer recruitment. “Volunteers are vital to the Main Street Program. In order to be successful, we must have healthy and active committees in the areas of Design, Promotion, Organization, and Economic Restructuring. We need at least five people on each committee.” Melvin is also focusing on the upcoming Farmers Markets. “I’m thrilled with the board’s decision to move the market to Uinta Drive,” she says. “Ideally, the Market will be downtown again, but until we have a space that can accommodate the needs of both vendors and patrons, we plan to maximize our presence on Uinta and build a relationship with the community.”