Davon Barbour became the Vice President of Economic Development for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore in September 2015. In this capacity, he is responsible for executing a comprehensive economic growth strategy that positions Downtown Baltimore for long-term success in the dynamic global economy. His portfolio includes business recruitment, retention, expansion; transportation planning; research and real estate/business technical assistance.

Barbour possesses nearly 20 years of progressive experience in progress economic development and community planning across the nation. He has worked for private sector, public sector, and non-profit organizations whose mission is to revitalize urban communities. Prior to recently returning to his native Baltimore, Barbour served in leadership roles as Director of the Department of Community & Economic Development for the City of Hollywood, FL; Assistant Director of the City of Orlando Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency and Manager of Economic Development for the Miami Downtown Development Authority. As a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOPE VI Expeditor, Barbour provided real estate technical assistance to several public housing agencies for the cities of Detroit, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. In addition, Barbour has contributed to redevelopment plans for cities such as Daytona Beach, Norfolk, Cincinnati, and his native Baltimore.

In his capacity as East Baltimore Liaison in the Office of Neighborhoods for then Baltimore-Mayor O’Malley, Barbour facilitated the development of a master plan and urban renewal legislation for an ambitious mixed-use redevelopment project that is underway and anchored by the Johns Hopkins University East Baltimore Campus. His work continued as Director of Economic Development and Planning for East Baltimore Development Inc. (EBDI).

His professional affiliations include the Urban Land Institute (ULI), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), International Downtown Association (IDA), and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Barbour currently serves on the IDA Board of Directors and is a past faculty member of the ICSC University of Shopping Centers. He has authored works for the Urban Land Institute and the International Downtown Association.