The Downtown District announced October 2, 2024 that Caleb Knutson has been hired as the Downtown Executive Director. Knutson will begin his new position on Monday, October 14th.
Knutson will be responsible for implementing the Downtown Vision Plan and executing other priorities of the Downtown SSMID (Self-Sustainable Municipal Improvement District) Commission, including attraction, retention and expansion of downtown businesses, and effective communication with downtown stakeholders.
Knutson joins three full-time employees and a seasonal laborer of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance in efforts to maintain a clean and beautiful downtown, continue programs and events that add to district vibrancy, and develop and maintain strong relationships with downtown businesses.
“Caleb is a great match for this leadership role during these exciting and dynamic times we are encountering in our downtown,” said James Klein, President of Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust and Chair of the Downtown SSMID. “Caleb has extensive experience working with an incredibly diverse population and understands the importance of regional collaboration within a city. I am confident Caleb will lead us to great community resilience and growth as he works on bringing our strategic plan to life.”
A native of Des Moines, Knutson is a graduate of Iowa State University with a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning. With a diverse professional background that includes leadership positions in higher education, city and governor appointed roles, he has also acquired many connections and leadership opportunities with his seats on boards and organizations, including Empower Rural Iowa, Iowa Commission on Latino Affairs, Iowa American Planning Association, Jacobson Institute for Innovation in Education, to name a few. Boasting more than a decade of experience, leading diverse teams, and successfully executing projects of varying scales, Knutson brings a nuanced understanding of what is optimal for the business, stakeholders, and customers.
“I believe Caleb’s history and perspective growing up in Iowa combined with his time spent in a variety of roles within the Des Moines area will serve the Downtown SSMID well,” Klein said. “In addition, his leadership and experience working on projects pertaining to economic, community, and workforce development provides an important subset of skills that will be necessary as Caleb works with the team to implement the strategic plan to make Cedar Rapids a destination of choice. We are excited to see what his energy and experience will bring to downtown.”
