Shacklett will take over the department having served as the interim director since February. The new director of the Economic Development Department has been with the city for over a decade, most recently serving as the assistant director of Development Services, Planning.
“I have had a lot of positions with the city in my 17 years here, but these last seven months serving as interim director have been among the most rewarding,” Shacklett said in the release. “With the projects we have underway and those that are upcoming, big things are happening in Richardson.”
What you need to know
Shacklett will oversee the city’s Economic Development Department, which primarily focuses on attracting and retaining businesses in Richardson. The department was created in 2022 as the city shifted its economic development strategy, per the news release.
In the news release, Magner cited Shacklett’s role in facilitating several economic development project announcements and advancements while serving as the interim director and his background with development services as reasons for making the change permanent.
“[Shacklett] provides us with a unique and differentiating approach to economic development,” Magner said. “It's almost like a one stop shop for all things development, services and economic development.”
Looking ahead
Magner said that the city’s economic development team will continue to work on three focus areas in the city’s economic development strategy:
- Implementation of the city’s three-pronged strategy to address an evolving office market
- The Richardson Innovation Quarter Headquarters
- Revitalization of retail spaces throughout the city
