Joshua A. Smith

Joshua A. Smith was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of the Butler County Finance Authority (BCFA) on April 8, 2024, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors. He brings more than 25 years of executive leadership in city management across Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio, with special emphasis in economic development, public finance, capital budgeting, and urban revitalization.

He holds a Master of Public Administration from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Sioux Falls. His professional development includes executive education at various institutions: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership), Harvard University (Senior Executives in State & Local Government), the University of Virginia (Senior Executive Institute), and the University of Oklahoma (Economic Development Institute).

As CEO, Smith is responsible for aligning BCFA’s vision, strategy, and resources to fulfill its mission: “Ignite the Butler County economy by attracting investment and creating jobs, while creating memorable places.” In pursuit of this mission, he collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders—including municipal governments, financial institutions, higher education partners, developers, business leaders, and nonprofit organizations—to:

• Deploy flexible financing tools to catalyze new development and redevelopment;
• Support community resilience through expertise in real estate, economic development, and placemaking;
• Promote strategic sites and corridors across the county through targeted marketing;
• Assist in the retention and expansion of key industries;
• Drive the large-scale regeneration of underutilized industrial properties, particularly in the legacy cities of Hamilton and Middletown.

Prior to joining BCFA, Smith served as City Manager of Hamilton, Ohio (2010–2024), where he managed an annual All Funds budget of $400 million and played a central role in Hamilton’s post-industrial transformation. His tenure was defined by bold capital investments, public-private partnerships, and landmark redevelopment efforts, including:

• Meldahl Hydroelectric Project - A $676 million renewable energy investment on the Ohio River, generating 105 MW of power, with 51.4% allocated to Hamilton.
• Spooky Nook at Champion Mill - A $165 million adaptive reuse project transforming a former paper mill into the largest indoor sports complex in North America, coupled with a hotel, retail, dining, conference, and medical space.
• Historic Mercantile Lofts  - A transformative adaptive reuse project that revitalized the historic Davis-McCrory Building, originally constructed circa 1875 in the First Renaissance Revival style, into a vibrant mixed-use development featuring 29 market-rate loft apartments above three street-level commercial spaces, catalyzing downtown Hamilton's resurgence and earning the 2011 Best Mixed-Use Rehabilitation Award from Heritage Ohio.
• Third + Dayton - A $25+ million reuse of the former Ohio Casualty headquarters in downtown Hamilton into a dynamic mixed-use development featuring market-rate apartments, student housing, retail, office, and hospitality spaces.
• Crawford Hoying Riverfront Development - A $150 million mixed-use redevelopment agreement for a 17+ acre former industrial site adjacent to the Great Miami River that will include hospitality, office, entertainment, and residential components.
• 80 Acres Farms - Established in Hamilton its world headquarters and one of the nation's first fully automated indoor vertical farms, producing over 10 million servings of fresh, pesticide-free produce annually. This innovation has not only advanced sustainable agriculture but also bolstered the local economy through the creation of new jobs and substantial investments in the community..
• South Hamilton Crossing - A $32 million grade separation infrastructure project improving traffic flow and safety, that was first identified as a need in 1911.
• The Marcum & Rossville Flats - Downtown mixed-use developments totaling $30 million, bringing more than 175 new residential units and 11,000 square feet of retail/commercial activation
• Well House Hotel - A Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel, opened in 2024 after a $16 million restoration of the historic 1927 Anthony Wayne Hotel, returning the landmark to its original hospitality purpose after six decades as apartments. Featuring 54 guest rooms, conference facilities, a fitness center, and the Lucky Well Irish pub.
• Main Street Revitalization - A multi-million dollar corridor revitalization initiative in partnership with CORE, including significant public infrastructure investments, historic building restorations and the recruitment of vibrant local businesses including Billy Yanks Burgers & Bourbon, Fretboard Public House, The HUB, Aglamesis Bros. Ice Cream, True West Coffee, Agave & Rye, The Farmer's Collective, Fleurish Home, Pet Wants, and the 513 Bar.
• Marcum Park & RiversEdge Amphitheater - Signature public spaces recognized nationally, including designation as one of the American Planning Association’s “Great Public Spaces in America” in 2016. RiversEdge Ampitheater consistently is rated as a top Cincinnati area live music venue.

He is an active member of the University of Cincinnati Real Estate Roundtable, Urban Land Institute (ULI), Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA), Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), Ohio Council of Port Authorities (OCPA), and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Joshua has been recognized by the following: