Announcing Josh Summits has joined Team FXBG Leading Economic Development and Tourism

Meeting Josh is a pleasure; his style is relaxed and approachable.  He is an outdoorsman at heart, but more of a city slicker in practice.  Josh has spent fifteen years working in urban redevelopment, community revitalization, and economic development. Now we welcome him, as the Director of Fredericksburg’s Economic Development and Tourism Team, beginning mid-August.

He came to our region via Stafford County, where he started in October 2019, serving most recently as Business Development Manager.

“I have spent the past five years working with Stafford to bring transformative economic development projects to the Fredericksburg Region.  Each locality offers diverse and unique attributes and opportunities.  The City of Fredericksburg has a robust list of amazing amenities and a thriving historical downtown.  My core focus and energies will target corridor redevelopment, and expanded business attraction and retention efforts,” Summits stated.

Josh grew up in Davidsville, PA, graduating WVU with a BA in Urban and Regional Planning and a Masters (MS) in Regional Planning from Indiana University of PA.  Previously, he has worked as the

Business Expansion and Attraction Specialist at the Urban Redevelopment Authority in Pittsburgh, PA and as Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Johnstown, PA.  He is recognized by the National Development Council, as a designated Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 “Leadership Fredericksburg” Program.

City Manager, Tim Baroody, is delighted to welcome Summits, and his expertise, across the Rappahannock, stating, “After a national search, we are very pleased to welcome a local professional with excellent Mid-Atlantic experience.  Josh can hit the ground running, knowing the Commonwealth and the region well.  The City of Fredericksburg has unlimited potential, and Josh will work to help us live it.”

When Josh is not in the office, he enjoys maximizing the beautiful Virginia weather and outdoors, hitting the mountains for a hike, biking the regional trail networks, throwing a round of disc golf, and assisting to coach his son’s youth soccer team.   Josh currently lives in Stafford with his son Graham.