Merritt Clapp-Smith has a wealth of experience in leading projects and teams of people to advance innovation in city building, economic development, placemaking and sustainability initiatives.
She served as a planner for the City of Saint Paul for more than a decade working on short and long term projects, including master planning, development review, zoning, code revisions, and small area plans. Over that time period, she and her interdepartmental city staff team partnered with dozens of government agencies, business and civic groups, stakeholder organizations, and landowners to plan strategic redevelopment of the 135-acre former Ford Motor Company site along the Mississippi River. Prior to her time at Saint Paul, she worked in planning for the City of Brooklyn Park, Washington County, and Dakota County. Merritt currently works at TKDA as an urban planner and project manager within the company’s Municipal Services Division.
She has a long history of volunteer service and has held leadership positions in a variety of business and civic organizations in the Twin Cities region. She served on the board for Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and helped found the Metro Independent Business Alliance.
Merritt received her Bachelor of Science with honors in city planning from Cornell University and a master’s degree in urban planning with a focus in economic development from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.