Ken Grimes (above)
Former Hoover city administrator, Ken Grimes, has been appointed the city of Hoover’s Economic Development director.
Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis made the announcement on Monday, November 24, 2025. Grimes will transition into this role.
Mayor Derzis stated, “I am grateful that Ken has chosen to bring his experience and expertise to lead this crucial effort. His deep knowledge of our city’s economy, especially the importance of retail, combined with his proven leadership, make him the ideal person to help us achieve our vision of restoring Hoover as Alabama’s premier retail destination.”
The former Bessemer resident earned his Master’s Degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as Hoover city administrator since 2023.
Today, Grimes understands the challenges and opportunities facing the city. He is quite familiar with the city’s industrial mix and the economic landscape.
Grimes stated, “I am excited to return to my roots in economic development and focus my efforts solely on strengthening Hoover’s economic future. I have a clear grasp of our strengths, our challenges and where we must go next. I look forward to driving targeted redevelopment, bolstering our retail base which is vital to our revenue structure, and pursuing new corporate recruitment that diversifies and expands employment opportunities.”