Jamie Nichols is a seasoned economic development professional with a strong record of leadership in rural revitalization, small business support, and regional capacity building, rural entrepreneurship, housing and childcare, tourism strategy, and organizational development. She has served as Executive Director of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation in Illinois, leading strategic initiatives to support local entrepreneurs, attract investment, strengthen infrastructure, and grow the region’s tourism economy. Jamie brings over a decade of cross-sector experience, including past leadership roles with the Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority and the Yukon 66 Main Street Association.
Her background includes targeted work in business retention and expansion (BRE), housing development, and innovative funding strategies for rural communities. In addition to her public-sector leadership, Jamie contributes professionally to the field through her Honest Economic Development series and was the founder of Econ Dev Ops, a virtual assistant agency serving chambers of commerce and economic development organizations nationwide. The firm specializes in providing scalable support solutions to help local organizations extend their reach, improve operational efficiency, and increase community impact.
As a Certified Crowdfund Better Advisor, Jamie led Pike County to become the first crowdfunding-certified economic development corporation in the United States. Her approach blends traditional and emerging tools to create practical, community-driven solutions that reduce reliance on government grants and promote local ownership. Her approach to the work is data-informed and people-centered, and Jamie is especially good at on-the-ground interviews and communications to suss out the real challenges and opportunities and align diverse stakeholders around shared goals.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Central Oklahoma
- Master of Science, Economic Development, University of Southern Mississippi
- Certified Economic Developer Coursework, Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute
Certifications
- Crowdfund Better Advisor