For nearly a decade, Tom West has been one of the driving forces behind Covington’s transformation. A steady hand guiding the City’s growth while fiercely protecting the character that makes Covington, Covington. Now, after a long and distinguished career, West has announced that he will retire as the City’s Economic Development Director in July 2026.

West joined the City in 2017 and quickly made his mark, leading initiatives that brought more than $240 million in private investment and 5,000 new jobs to Covington. His department crafted the City’s first comprehensive economic development strategy, implemented policies ensuring a return on investment for taxpayers, and completely rewrote the City’s zoning code — now known as the Neighborhood Development Code — which has become a model for

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