Full Name
Deputy Mayor Kenya Merritt
Speaker Bio
Kenya Merritt has over 20 years of experience as a public service executive with expertise in developing and leading large-scale neighborhood and economic development initiatives.
She currently holds the role of Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development where she is tasked with driving equitable economic development that deliver real results and transformation by promoting wage growth, entrepreneurship, and investment throughout Chicago.
Previously she was the Program Officer with the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s community investment portfolio, including the Foundation’s flagship initiative, the Chicago Prize.
She’s also held dual roles as the First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Small Business Officer at the City of Chicago, where she was responsible for setting the City's small business agenda and strengthening programs that support business growth and invigorate communities in every corner of Chicago.
She’s been at the forefront of rolling out the City’s $100M fiscal business support programs, assisting entrepreneurs through the re-opening and recovery, and has worked with nearly 100 business support organizations setting equitable standards and supporting essential workers through the pandemic.
She has led Chicago’s efforts to invest over $50M through the Chicago’s Recovery Fund to support economic development initiatives that drive small business growth, build organizational capacity of local nonprofits, and create opportunities to access capital for food-based entrepreneurs.
Kenya previously worked as the Chief Financial Officer with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Department of Family and Support Services and as an analyst for the Office of Budget and Management.
Throughout her career, she has worked to improve communities by forging partnerships to develop and implement initiatives and policies that range in the areas of financial management, arts administration, community, and economic development, each with the goal of making Chicago better.
Kenya holds a MS in Public Service Management from DePaul University and a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a 2022 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. She is a resident of the Austin community and the proud mother of Caleb.
She currently holds the role of Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development where she is tasked with driving equitable economic development that deliver real results and transformation by promoting wage growth, entrepreneurship, and investment throughout Chicago.
Previously she was the Program Officer with the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s community investment portfolio, including the Foundation’s flagship initiative, the Chicago Prize.
She’s also held dual roles as the First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Small Business Officer at the City of Chicago, where she was responsible for setting the City's small business agenda and strengthening programs that support business growth and invigorate communities in every corner of Chicago.
She’s been at the forefront of rolling out the City’s $100M fiscal business support programs, assisting entrepreneurs through the re-opening and recovery, and has worked with nearly 100 business support organizations setting equitable standards and supporting essential workers through the pandemic.
She has led Chicago’s efforts to invest over $50M through the Chicago’s Recovery Fund to support economic development initiatives that drive small business growth, build organizational capacity of local nonprofits, and create opportunities to access capital for food-based entrepreneurs.
Kenya previously worked as the Chief Financial Officer with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Department of Family and Support Services and as an analyst for the Office of Budget and Management.
Throughout her career, she has worked to improve communities by forging partnerships to develop and implement initiatives and policies that range in the areas of financial management, arts administration, community, and economic development, each with the goal of making Chicago better.
Kenya holds a MS in Public Service Management from DePaul University and a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a 2022 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. She is a resident of the Austin community and the proud mother of Caleb.
Speaking At
