Peter Wills

Director of Government Relations & Strategic Operations @City Of Muskegon

Muskegon, MI, US

Strategic Advisor to the City Manager and member of executive leadership team. Primary liaison to represent the city’s positions before the state and federal government to advance the city’s goals and objectives of advocating for public policies and funding; and cultivate relationships with public officials and agencies for the betterment of the community. Execute operational initiatives and project management and generate alignment around a common strategic vision across the organization; serve as a catalyst for effective cross-functional coordination; and drive execution of deliverables that move ideas from theoretical and visionary to actionable and measurable.* Secured over $42M in state/federal grants (excluding federal ARPA funds) to support community placemaking, economic development, property acquisition, climate resiliency, and recreation planning projects.* Managed the City’s $22.8M ARPA allocation as well as $1.1M of federal CARES Act funding.* Re-wrote the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.* Led the process to acquire 62 acres of state-owned property for inclusion to the City’s Industrial Park.* Coordinating the disposition of the City-owned, square foot Trinity Health Arena.* Coordinated the development of the City’s Climate Action Plan.* Assisted in drafting a Community Wharf, Commerce, and Maritime Center Project Prospectus.* Staff liaison to the City’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board.* Facilitated the redesign and modernization of the City’s website.

Western Michigan University

Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) - Public Management

Michigan State University

B.S.