Steve Maxey returned to Merced County as the Director of Community & Economic Development on July 3, 2023. His teams are responsible for leading the County’s efforts on economic development, land use planning, physical development, water resources, environmental health, and maintenance/redevelopment of the former Castle Air Force Base.
He was previously part of the County team from 2015 to 2022, as the Deputy Director for Planning in the Community & Economic Development department. There, he was primarily focused on short- and long-term land use planning projects, regulations, and policies. Steve’s public sector experience spans over fifteen years at the local government level, and includes a broad range of focus areas such as transportation engineering, environmental clearance, and urban downtown revitalization. He briefly left the County to start a consulting firm that successfully led major annexation, agricultural, and water resources projects within the Central Valley.
Steve and the Community & Economic Development teams stand ready to assist with just about any permitting activities. They want our communities to see positive change in their neighborhoods and businesses, and will always aim to provide the best hands-on customer service whenever possible. They strive to make connections with our unincorporated communities during long-range planning efforts, helping our residents and businesses shape their communities for years to come.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from California State University, Chico. He and his wife, Kelli – who is a finance professional with UC Merced – have two young children that attend school locally. Steve and his family regularly spend time in the outdoors; golf courses, national forests, and local lakes are a “second home” full of all their favorite pastimes.