Cedar Rapids Downtown District names new executive director

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids’ Downtown District announced Thursday it has hired Des Moines native Caleb Knutson to be its next executive director.

Knutson will work with the Downtown Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) Commission — mayor-appointed panel that decides how businesses’ tax dollars are spent within the core district — to attract, retain and expand downtown businesses. He also will lead implementation of the Downtown Vision Plan, a five-year outline of 70 initiatives meant to revitalize downtown.

Knutson will begin work Oct. 14.

“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.”

Knutson most recently worked as a senior planner with Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance, an organization that supports economic development in Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Marion, Polk, Story and Warren counties. The news release announcing his hiring notes his “diverse background” that includes leadership positions in higher education, city and governor appointed roles.

He has served on a number of boards and organizations, including Empower Rural Iowa, the Iowa Commission on Latino Affairs, Iowa American Planning Association, and the Jacobson Institute for Innovation in Education.

“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,” the release states.

Knutson is a graduate of Iowa State University with a master’s degree in community and regional planning.

The search for a new executive director began earlier this year when a committee appointed by the Downtown SSMID Commission recommended hiring a new executive director and keeping the SSMID housed within the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. The panel also recommended a physical storefront for the district offices, to distinguish it from the alliance and to grant easier access for the public.

In May, SSMID Commission member Randy Rings, TrueNorth’s general counsel, said the executive director should be “somebody whose job it is to wake up every day and think of our district.”

In Thursday’s release announcing Knutson’s hire, Klein said Knutson brings “energy and experience” to downtown Cedar Rapids.

“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.”

Knutson joins three full-time employees and a seasonal laborer of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance in efforts to maintain a clean downtown, continue programs and events that add to district vibrancy, and develop and maintain strong relationships with downtown businesses.

The executive director position was previously held by Jesse Thoeming, who resigned from the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance in August 2023.