Nick Weber knows economic development from both sides of opportunity — first as Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development with the City of Indianapolis and now as a director in FaegreBD Consulting's national public sector group. He works with a range of clients to identify and pursue initiatives that better position them for future economic growth in Indiana and across the country.
By understanding the mechanisms of local and state government related to facilitating private sector economic development, Nick bridges language barriers. He connects with public sector clients to facilitate projects in the private sector, and he collaborates with private sector clients to partner with the public sector. Nick helps businesses and organizations access federal, state and local funding that propels positive economic and workforce development outcomes for communities.
In addition to local and state government, Nick and other members of the firm's public sector team have practical experience with federal agencies, including:
- Department of Commerce (DOC)
- Economic Development Administration (EDA)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Department of Labor (DOL)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Economic development is competitive, but Nick navigates clients through the process with his experience in identifying opportunities, managing applications, understanding bonds and other financing tools, and negotiating terms of incentive packages. He is particularly experienced in high-growth, high-demand industries such as logistics, advanced manufacturing, information technology, energy, health and life sciences.
Nick also serves clients in strategic communications, reputation management and public relations. Whether in the public, private or nonprofit sector, he develops effective strategies, designs core messages and delivers positive responses when challenges arise.
Before joining FaegreBD Consulting in 2010, Nick was an Indianapolis Deputy Mayor under Mayor Gregory A. Ballard. In addition to economic and workforce development, he oversaw the city's educational and cultural initiatives with functional responsibilities spanning quasi-public agencies and city departments.
Previously, Nick served in several roles on the staff of former U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar in his Washington, D.C. and Indiana offices over 6½ years. His positions included special assistant, campaign manager, and Indiana press secretary and deputy press secretary. Nick also was vice president of outreach and communications for Conexus Indiana, a nonprofit that promotes the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries in Indiana. After graduating from college, he joined the City of Indianapolis administration, first as the Department of Metropolitan Development public information officer and then as press secretary for then-Mayor Steve Goldsmith.
Representative Experience
FaegreBD Consulting
- Helped the City of Indianapolis secure a $39 million federal loan guarantee from HUD to establish a Community and Economic Development Loan Pool, allowing the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development to provide loans for financing economic development and housing rehabilitation initiatives that benefit low- and moderate-income individuals and create 470 full-time, private sector jobs — more than half of which will be for low- and moderate-income individuals
- Working with the Economic Development Commission of Southwest Indiana in attracting a $2 billion fertilizer manufacturing operation and overcoming significant complications with plant ownership by a Pakistani company
- Working with the Regional Development Authority of Northwest Indiana to re-tool and expand asset mapping and cluster strategies, promote economic development, manage grant programs and facilitate funding efforts
- Project manager in a complex federal grant application for a leading life sciences manufacturer, ultimately succeeding in securing a multimillion dollar contract through BARDA
- Assist international company, seeking to make hundreds of millions of dollars in economic investment, secure vital incentives allowing the project to proceed in the targeted community and resulting in a significant new tax base and retention of employees
City of Indianapolis
- Identified and aggressively pursued economic development opportunities to better position Indianapolis for future economic growth, resulting in more than 20,000 new or retained job commitments and more than $800 million in capital investment commitments
- Implemented the economic development portion of the city's effort to achieve a more international presence, including planning and then traveling to Japan and China
- Negotiated groundbreaking real estate and economic development agreements creating a more business-like partnership between the city and local companies
- Developed a vision for radical realignment of Indianapolis Economic Development Inc. (IEDI) and the Indianapolis Private Industry Council (IPIC), the city's premiere economic development and workforce development agencies, to more holistically address employer needs with the ultimate goal of bringing more 21st century jobs to the city
- Led strategic efforts to restructure the IPIC Board of Directors and streamline and improve the quality of traditional workforce services delivered in Indianapolis so that IPIC could serve as a valuable resource to prospective employers
- Cultivated relationships with Indiana's congressional delegation and continually worked with senior government officials, business executives and community leaders to advance Indianapolis' economic development efforts
- Actively guided mayor-sponsored charter school operations with an intense focus on quality control and development of new ideas in recognition of how the city's educational options impact economic and workforce development efforts
- Represented the city and administration at local, national and international events
