Longtime Economic Development Official Joins Cedar Park

CEDAR PARK, TX -- City officials announced the hiring of an economic development assistant director to help the city lure new businesses and expand existing ones.

Larry Ruggiano has joined the city from the governor's office, where he served as program manager and small business specialist in the Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

“I'm delighted and thrilled to work for such an awesome city like Cedar Park and look forward to many great things coming our way."

While at the governor’s office, Ruggiano identified issues relating to the business and economic growth of the rural and urban communities across the state. He coordinated many of his activities with the Texas Workforce Commission, Small Business Development Centers and other state agencies. Those efforts also included the partnering with local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations throughout Texas.

Cedar Park Director of Economic Development Phil Brewer lauded Ruggiano's extensive experience in economic development, which will benefit the city in luring and expanding businesses.

“We are all excited to have Larry coming on board as the Assistant Director in the City’s Economic Development Department," Brewer said. "He brings a wealth of experience and contacts in both economic development and commercial real estate and we are looking forward to the contributions he will make to Cedar Park’s economic development efforts.”

Prior to serving in the Governor’s Office, Ruggiano worked in the economic development and commercial real estate business for 26 years, holding various managerial and supervisory roles. Ruggiano is a licensed Texas real estate broker with experience specializing in small business locations, both in leasing and sales of commercial property.

Ruggiano served on many boards and worked on both regional and community economic development efforts, serving as president of Temple Economic Development Corporation and as senior economic development specialist/supervisor for the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Ruggiano earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University in Miami and earned his economic development certificate from the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. Ruggiano replaces longtime Cedar Park Assistant Director of Economic Development Larry Holt, who left Cedar Park in February to become Greater Portland, Inc.’s Vice President of Business Development in Portland, Ore.