The Madison County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors has named 40-year economic development professional Ken Oilschlager to serve as its
Interim Executive Director. Following a complete review of the duties and responsibilities of the next executive director, a national search will begin
to find a fulltime replacement for Tim Coursey, who resigned in April.
Oilschlager will manage the day-to-day operations of MCEDA, including the staff, ongoing projects and the implementation of an economic development strategy
moving forward so our job-creating efforts will not stall.
Madison County Supervisor David Bishop stated, “Ken was an outstanding asset to MCEDA when it first started and I know that Madison County will deeply
benefit from his experience right here at home and other places across the nation. He calls Madison County home just like we do and will work hard
to create new jobs and maximize the mission of existing industry.”
Oilschlager is no stranger to Madison County or to the Economic Development profession, he began his career in Madison County in 1976 and assisted in the
formation of MCEDA, serving as its first Executive Director.
Oilschlager is credited with bringing Levi Straus to Madison County and other top tier businesses such as The State of Mississippi Liquor Distribution
Center. In addition, he worked to develop North Park Mall, and assisted in the relocation of the regional agricultural credit offices from New Orleans
to Ridgeland.
In addition, Oilschlager helped work through the effort to establish a Holmes Community College Campus in Ridgeland, which is now used by hundreds of Madison
County students.
Oilschlager was asked to join the staff of the Mississippi Development Authority as a Senior Economic Developer. His career next took him to Greenwood,
Shreveport, Louisiana; Columbia, South Carolina; Lexington, Kentucky then back to Mississippi in 2006 where he served as a Public Finance Banker with
the Stephens, Inc. in Ridgeland. He retired in 2011 in Madison County.
He is a Fellow Member of the American Economic Development Council and is a Certified Economic Developer; a past Dean of the national Economic Development
Institute, the continuing education program for economic development professionals; served on the executive committee of the Southern Growth Policies
Board; served on the 1998 Commission on the Future of the South and is a former chairman of the Kentucky Workforce Development Board.
Oilschlager stated, “I am so honored that the very organization I helped build decades ago has invited me back home, to MCEDA, to work towards strengthening
Madison County through new and existing businesses. I have great confidence in the leadership of MCEDA and I am looking forward to working with them
until a fulltime replacement can be found.”
The Madison County Economic Development Authority offers a broad array of economic development, business development, and corporate site location assistance
services to new and expanding business and industry. For more information on MCEDA, please visit www.madisoncountyeda.com.
