Kandis Williams

Kandis Williams is the executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Cleveland, a national community development intermediary and community development financial institution (CDFI). In this role, Williams leads LISC Cleveland’s community investment efforts and programming to support affordable housing, economic development, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization in Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio.

Previously, she served as the vice president for economic opportunity with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP), where she led programs focused on economic development, workforce development, and economic mobility. Prior to joining CNP, Williams was vice president of Community Development Lending with Citizens Bank, directing capital to affordable housing and community revitalization projects in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. She also previously served as senior vice president for Village Capital Corporation, which is the CDFI lending subsidiary of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and held other leadership roles in local government and nonprofit community development.

Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts in urban studies from the College of Wooster and a Master of Urban Planning, design, and development from the Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs. She contributes her time and expertise to a variety of local efforts through activities such as serving on several nonprofit boards and municipal committees.