The City of Amesbury announces the hiring of Nicholas Cracknell as the new Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED). The Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) works to foster economic vitality, to preserve and enhance neighborhoods, quality of life and the environment, and to promote equity and opportunity for all residents of Amesbury.

Nicholas comes to the position with nearly 30 years of experience in municipal and private sector service.  

Nicholas Cracknell began his career in 1995 as the City Planner right here in the City of Amesbury. Continuing on to cities such as Newburyport, and Georgetown, he most recently held the position of Principal Planner for the City of Portsmouth, NH where he worked since 2011.

Cracknell has extensive experience in long range planning, historic preservation, economic development, land preservation, and the development of innovative land use regulations.  He has also served on and staffed numerous land use boards, commissions, and committees.

Nicholas replaces Angela Cleveland, the former OCED Director. Nicholas holds a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts. He has also been a member of the American Institute of Planners since 1999. 

"After an extensive search with involvement from departments across the city and community partners like the Chamber of Commerce, I am thrilled to welcome Nicholas Cracknell to our team. Nicholas has a unique combination of appreciation and care for our history along with vision and passion for growth and innovation. This position is critical for our future and I look forward to his leadership and expertise guiding a thoughtful expansion of our tax base. Nicholas is known for being creative and valuing collaborative systems. I invite the community to engage in future stakeholder opportunities to get to know him and his team", said Mayor Gove

Nick said, “I’m excited to be returning to my hometown as the OCED Director to work with the Mayor and her dynamic team.  I’m hopeful my experience away from Amesbury will contribute meaningfully to many development projects that seek to broaden the local tax base. My public sector experience in Newburyport and Portsmouth has deepened both my understanding and appreciation of the many planning challenges we now face such as affordable housing and the dire need for value-added economic development. Similarly, my private sector experience has underscored the many regulatory and procedural barriers faced by those seeking to invest in their homes, businesses, and our communities. I will do my best to support the Mayor’s team in charting a new and more deliberate course for planning and economic development and work to continue to make Amesbury a destination community." 

His start date will be July 17, 2023, followed by an appointment filling with the City Clerk.