Cantor named to key leadership position in City of Boise

After playing a pivotal role in many decisions made in Boise, Mayor Lauren McLean has named one of her advisors to a key leadership position for the city.

Andrea Cantor was recently appointed to the role of director of Economic Development, succeeding former director Sean Keithly.

Cantor most recently served as McLean’s senior policy advisor on land use and planning, and before that, she was the economic development advisor, in which she worked with stakeholders in the community to support business growth and community development initiatives, the mayor’s office stated.

“Andrea has been a key team member on many of Boise’s development projects,” McLean said. “Time and again she has shown a willingness to take on difficult projects, a dedication to finding solutions that serve the broader community and has prioritized building trust with our partners as we grow. I look forward to her leadership in this position.”

According to the city, Cantor has worked on the policies for several projects during her time there, “including small business licensing, Micron’s expansion and downtown Boise’s 8th Street expansion. She also supported the creation of the city’s Five-Year Economic Development Plan.”

Cantor, a Boise native, comes from a background of market research, multifamily operations and development and corporate development. She graduated from University of Idaho with a degree in international studies and political science, and she earned a master’s degree in real estate from Georgetown University.

She serves on Garden City Urban Renewal Agency’s board of commissioners, is a member of the Bloomberg Harvard Leading Cities in Economic Development Cohort, is a member of the Idaho Economic Development Association, and works with the Urban Land Institute Idaho.

McLean’s sentiment was echoed by those in the economic development community, citing her dedication to the region’s growth.

“On behalf of [the Boise Valley Economic Partnership] and our stakeholders, we are thrilled to continue working with Andrea in this new capacity,” said Clark Krause, executive director of BVEP. “Andrea’s dedication and hard work have been evident throughout our partnership, and we look forward to supporting her continued success as Economic Development director.”