Kristian Blessington, Economic Development Specialist, U.S. Economic Development AdministrationBefore joining EDA Kristian worked as a Partnership Specialist for the 2020 Census. In this role he developed partnership agreements with community organizations and local governments across Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties to develop targeted strategies to eliminate barriers in public participation in the Decennial Census. His first job in Colorado was working as the Public Health Planner for Jefferson County where he coordinated community health assessments and health improvement plans that assessed local health concerns and planned evidence-based strategies to address them. Before he arrived in Colorado, he worked on program outreach and partner support with the US EPA Safer Choice program in Washington DC. His public sector career began in his home state of Florida while attending graduate school where his first professional job was with the Florida Department of Health. He has a Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Florida.Kristian’s hobbies include hiking and camping in the mountains, snowboarding, cooking and attending community events around Denver.