Economic Development Strategy, Planning, and Evaluation
Mt. Auburn provides a full range of consulting services in the field of economic development analysis and strategy. Working with a variety of public and private organizations, the firm creates effective economic development policies and programs that promote economic growth and stability, job generation, and the improved functioning of capital markets.
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Peter Kwass, Principal
A founding principal of Mt. Auburn Associates, Peter draws from 25 years of experience in the economic development field. In addition to extensive work in broad-based local and regional strategic planning, Peter has particular expertise in formulating targeted strategies to address economic inequalities. Working at the intersections of regional and community-based economic development, he designs workforce development, entrepreneurship, and commercial revitalization strategies that create economic opportunities for distressed communities and disadvantaged populations by linking them more closely to regional industries, markets, and institutions. Peter also has deep expertise in economic program evaluation. His evaluation work is particularly valued by clients for its emphasis on findings that are actionable and useful to economic development practitioners.
Peter is currently leading an evaluation of the Fund for our Economic Future, a multi-year, $30 million foundation-led initiative to reinvigorate the economy of the 15-county Northeast Ohio region. During the past two years, he developed workforce development plans for three distressed neighborhoods in Savannah, Columbus, and Baltimore as a participant in multi-disciplinary teams charged with crafting comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans. He served for several years as an advisor to the Annie E. Casey Jobs Initiative, a recently completed multi-year demonstration program testing multiple approaches to increasing employment for low-income residents of six cities.
Active in Boston’s community development for over 25 years, Peter played a long-term leadership role for one of Boston’s leading community development corporations, and is currently serving as president of a recently established community-based organization in an inner-ring Boston suburb that supports economic development through environmental and recreational initiatives. Before founding Mt. Auburn Associates, Peter was an associate at Counsel for Community Development, an early leader in the development finance field.
Peter holds a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a B.A. in American History from Brown University.
