Max Upton is an accomplished community and economic development professional with extensive experience guiding public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders through complex redevelopment, housing, planning, and economic growth initiatives. With a background spanning real estate development, economic development finance, public administration, and military leadership, he brings a multifaceted perspective to building stronger, more resilient communities.

Max’s work centers on leveraging real estate finance, market analysis, incentive structuring, and cross-sector collaboration to create places where businesses can grow and residents can thrive. His career includes leading transformative initiatives in urban planning, mixed‑use redevelopment, master planning, and strategic economic development across Northeast Ohio. Notably, his efforts in North Olmsted helped drive the creation of more than 714 new jobs and $36 million in new payroll over a three‑year period.

Throughout his career, Max has successfully secured more than $10 million in state, federal, and philanthropic funding to support key programmatic and redevelopment initiatives. He excels at forming partnerships, managing large-scale capital projects, and structuring creative financing strategies that unlock durable community value.

Max is known for his ability to unite diverse interests, advance catalytic development, expand housing opportunities, and drive meaningful outcomes for the communities he serves.

Education

Grow America (Formerly National Development Council), Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (2025)

Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs, Master of Public Administration – Economic Development Concentration (2017)

Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs, Graduate Certificate in Urban Economic Development (2017)

Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs, Bachelor of Arts in Public Management & Urban Policy, Cum Laude (2014)

Professional Activities

• Board Member & Chair, Annual Summit, Ohio Economic Development Association (2026)
• Board Member, Honor Flight Cleveland
• Former Board Member, Ohio Conference of Community Development – Legislative & Policy Committee
• Former Board Member, Congress for the New Urbanism – Midwest Chapter
• Former Board Member, Selective Service Board, Lorain County
• Former Board Member, Neighborhood Alliance, Lorain County

2025 – Citywide Comprehensive Plan (City of North Olmsted)
Led the creation of a citywide comprehensive plan for the City of North Olmsted, guiding future land use, infrastructure investment, housing, transportation, and economic development decisions.

2025 – Mall Area Mixed‑Use Zoning Overlay (Great Northern Mall)
Created a mixed‑use zoning overlay for the Great Northern Mall area, enabling redevelopment opportunities that support higher‑intensity uses, walkability, and long‑term economic repositioning of the site.

2024 – Lorain Corridor Transportation for Livable Communities Strategic Plan
Contributed to the creation of a Transportation for Livable Communities strategic plan for the Lorain Corridor, focusing on multimodal transportation, connectivity, and land‑use coordination to support redevelopment and livability.

2024 – Form‑Based Residential Zoning Code (City of North Olmsted)
Developed a form‑based residential zoning code to allow for greater flexibility and density, supporting infill development while maintaining neighborhood character and design standards.

2022 – Economic Development Strategic Plan (City of North Olmsted)
Led the development of the City of North Olmsted’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, outlining actionable strategies to support business retention, attraction, redevelopment, and long‑term economic growth.

2021 – Comprehensive Zoning Code Rewrite (City of Lorain)
Assisted in the successful adoption of a comprehensive zoning code rewrite, modernizing land‑use regulations to better align with community goals, economic development priorities, and contemporary planning best practices.

2020 – CDBG‑CV Small Business Stabilization Grant Program (City of Lorain)
Played a key role in designing and launching the City of Lorain’s CDBG‑CV Small Business Stabilization Grant Program, providing financial assistance to local businesses impacted by the COVID‑19 pandemic.

2017 – Downtown Revitalization Revolving Loan Fund (Lorain County)
Led the creation of a Downtown Revitalization Revolving Loan Fund for Lorain County, establishing program guidelines and funding mechanisms to support redevelopment, business growth, and reinvestment in the downtown core.

2016 – USEPA Brownfields Areawide Planning Grant
Supported the City of Lorain in securing and implementing a USEPA Brownfields Areawide Planning Grant of $200,000 to assess redevelopment opportunities, engage stakeholders, and create a long‑term strategy for revitalizing environmentally challenged areas.

• Speaker, “Driving Change: Coalition-Building for Corridor Transformation.” Cleveland APA, 2024
• Presenter, “The Economic Benefits of Walkable neighborhoods.” OEDA Summit, 2023
• Speaker, “Great Northern Rebirth: The path towards a new mall.” Cleveland APA, 205

Max is a lifelong resident of Lorain, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Kristin, and their three children; Klara, Eliza, and Lincoln. His commitment to community service is rooted in his upbringing and strengthened by his six years in the Ohio Army National Guard, including his deployment to Afghanistan in support of the NATO Training Mission.

He remains active in statewide economic development organizations, local leadership programs, and veteran-support efforts. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, supporting community initiatives, and mentoring emerging leaders in urban and economic development.