The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce will announce its new vice president of economic development at a press conference Friday, chamber officials said Wednesday.

Chamber President Bill Sepic and several other people involved in the search process declined to release the name of the new economic development leader, who will be replacing Debi Moore, who resigned in February.

Sepic only would identify the new individual as a younger, Midwestern resident who currently works in the economic development field.

“We feel very good about our choice,” Sepic said.

“This person clearly is the right choice. This individual will bring a lot of energy and positive traits to the position and people will really recognize those traits pretty immediately.”

Kelvin Heck, chairman of the chamber, said the group’s search committee had received more than 125 applications for the position.

“This person had done a lot of homework about our community,” Heck said. “Knew a lot about our growth, about our planning. This person was clearly interested in the job, almost to an unusual degree.”

Heck said the individual had toured the city last week, along with one other finalist for the position. The position will oversee two chamber staff members and will handle an economic development budget of approximately $300,000, Heck said.

Sepic said the new leader would be asked to create new jobs in the Lawrence and Douglas County area during a “pivotal time” in the community’s development.

“If you look at what other communities around us are doing, it’s obvious they are becoming more aggressive in economic development,” Sepic said. “Manhattan has started a private fund-raising drive for economic development and is trying to get a sales tax passed, and Topeka has a sales tax for economic development. Wyandotte County certainly is receiving a boost from the (Kansas Speedway) racetrack.

“So all that means we have to make sure we are poised to grow the way we want to grow, and this position is very important to that.”

Heck said the new person likely would join the chamber staff before Aug. 1.