Nathan Ohle
Executive Director
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
Nathan Ohle is a leading expert in economic mobility in rural and urban communities, and was recently selected as one of 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in economic development internationally. Nathan currently serves as the Executive Director of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), a non-profit focused on economic development and access to water for rural communities across the country. Nathan has been a leader in economic development for more than a decade at both the federal and state levels. He recently served in the Obama Administration as the Senior Advisor at the US Economic Development Administration (EDA), overseeing policy and external affairs for the $250 million agency. He also served as the lead for the US Department of Commerce on the White House Rural Council and the Administration-wide Community Solutions team, leading the engagement in place-based initiatives across the Department of Commerce. Nathan has also developed new partnerships for EDA, and created the Office of Philanthropic Engagement for the Department of Commerce, helping align the interests of the philanthropic sector with the federal government. Nathan also served as the Deputy Director of the Detroit Federal Working Group where he helped coordinate more than 15 federal agencies working with Mayor Duggan and community leaders in the city.
Previously, Ohle served as the Board Relations Liaison for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, with responsibilities that included running three economic development boards tasked with creating new jobs and investment for the state hit hardest by the recession. During his time at the MEDC, these programs invested more than $500 million in incentives, tax breaks, grants and loans that created or retained more than 350,000 jobs and leveraged more than $1 billion in additional investments.
Nathan also served under Governor Jennifer M. Granholm in Michigan as her Trip Director, coordinating the Governor’s Executive Office and re-election campaign Advance and Outreach. While working for the Governor, Nathan was responsible for outreach in economic development and underserved populations.
Additionally, Nathan has served on several non-profit boards and is an active volunteer in the community. He earned two bachelor degrees from Michigan State University. Nathan and his wife Lindsey live in Falls Church, VA with their two children Sophia (10) and Landon (8).