The City of Iowa City has appointed a new Economic Development Coordinator, Rachel Kilburg Varley, to fill the role left vacant by former coordinator Wendy Ford, who retired in August. Kilburg has worked for the City since June of 2020, where she has served as Assistant City Manager. She has been serving as interim Economic Development Coordinator following Ford’s departure. Her duties will officially begin Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.

Kilburg’s role will focus on strengthening relationships with Iowa City’s business and arts and cultural communities. She will lead targeted economic development efforts and seek to leverage resources with partner organizations to create innovative and inclusive economic development opportunities. Kilburg will partner closely with Greater Iowa City, Inc. and the City’s two Self-Supported Municipal Improvement Districts to support shared goals and help identify solutions that enable economic growth in the community. She will be a primary liaison with arts and culture organizations and look to build Iowa City’s strong reputation for supporting the arts as a focused economic development strategy.

Prior to her employment at the City of Iowa City, Kilburg worked for the City of Dubuque, where she served as Senior Budget and Financial Analyst. Her experience there also included work in the Economic Development Department, Transportation Services Department, and she co-led committee work on equity and high-performing government. In her role as Assistant City Manager, Kilburg served as the City’s ADA Coordinator, spearheaded numerous special projects, and served as an integral member of the budget team.

Kilburg holds a master’s degree in strategic communication from the University of Iowa, and a bachelor’s degree in politics and Spanish from Loras College. She has served on numerous community boards including the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County and the Iowa City Downtown District. Her background includes volunteer work as an English language tutor for adult immigrants, and as a volunteer grassroots organizer.

City Manager Geoff Fruin stated, “I am pleased to name Rachel Kilburg to the position of Economic Development Coordinator. Rachel’s past municipal work experience, training, and proven ability to build and nurture community partnerships make her well-positioned to excel in this position. I am incredibly excited to see Rachel take on this role and have full confidence in her ability to be an outstanding economic development advocate and leader for the Iowa City community.”