AFA Welcomes New Staff
As thought leaders and implementers, the Acclerator’s talented staff are the beating hearts and hardworking hands behind everything we do, and we are excited that we are entering 2023 with two incredible new team members: Anne Bovaird Nevins, our new Director of Economic Development, and Matt Horton, our new Director of State Policy and Initiatives.
All eyes were on Philadelphia during this year’s World Series, and Anne’s work as the longtime leader and President of PIDC drew ours there, too!
As Director of Economic Development, Anne drives our work to create greater economic mobility through small business support, workforce development initiatives, and neighborhood redevelopment.
“America’s cities need action, so I’m excited to work with a “do tank” to strategically bring much-needed capacity to support mayors and communities to do more than they could on their own,” Anne said. “I’m especially eager to dive into how the Accelerator uniquely recognizes the differences among our nation’s local communities but hones in on the challenges and opportunities we all share to create national change from the ground up.”
Anne has been with PIDC for nearly 16 years, serving as President since January 2020 and leading the organization through the pandemic.
PIDC is Philadelphia’s official economic development corporation and was founded by the City and Chamber of Commerce more than 60 years ago with the mission to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive inclusive growth.
Under Anne’s leadership, PIDC has deployed more than $71 million in COVID-19 relief to more than 5,200 small businesses, and more than 65% of the COVID-19 small business relief dollars through PIDC have gone to minority-owned enterprises.
During her tenure, PIDC invested more than $32 million in 16 commercial and mixed-use projects led by developers of color throughout Philadelphia including the Navy Yard, a 109-acre, $2.5 billion development comprising 4.5 million commercial and retail square feet and 4,000 residential units.
During the Clinton Administration, Anne served in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, which is responsible for coordination between the President and all cabinet agencies. She then joined the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and managed the logistical and hospitality arrangements for all U.S. dignitaries attending the Olympics.
She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Matt joins our team from the Milken Institute, where he was director of its California Center. Over the past 15 years, Matt has worked to direct research driven programs and initiatives to develop public policy that impacts housing production, infrastructure finance, enhance access to capital, create jobs and other economic development strategies.
Matt will continue a focus in California with AFA as he helps local communities ‘maximize the moment’ of new monies available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and California Economic Resilience Fund.
“At a time when California is set to receive historic levels of public funding, I’m excited to join the Accelerator to form and leverage a network of statewide partnerships to further catalyze investment in infrastructure and community development,” Matt said in describing his new role. “In success, we will engage leaders from around the state to build capacity toward a more equitable economic future.”
At the Milken Institute, Matt produced research, programs and events to inform and activate innovative economic policy solutions to support job creation and infrastructure development as a catalyst for resilient growth. Matt previously worked for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization that represents six counties, 191 cities and more than 19 million residents. There, Matt served as the primary point of contact for external and government affairs, developing plans with leaders across Southern California and at the state and federal levels to plan for growth, build resiliency, and improve quality of life throughout the region.
Matt remains affiliated with the Milken Institute as a Senior Advisor, is a member of the state of California Economic Mobility and Entrepreneurship Task Force and serves on the advisory boards of Lift to Rise, WorkingNation, and Abundant Housing Los Angeles. He earned an MA in political science from California State University, Fullerton and a BA in history from Azusa Pacific University.
The Accelerator works with the best leaders in America, and Anne and Matt are continuing that tradition. Please join me in welcoming them to the team!
Mary Ellen Wiederwohl
President and CEO | Accelerator for America