Community &
regional planning
Translate complex regulations and long-range goals into clear steps for economic development, infrastructure, and authentic placemaking.
Planning with purpose. Progress with a plan.
Stronger communities.
Lasting possibilities.
I’m Kelly Nicole Gibson, a planning and grants strategist helping communities turn ambitious visions into meaningful, lasting progress.
Rooted in Florida. Focused on the future.
Community planningGrant strategyConservation & resilience
Where vision meets action
A thoughtful approach.
A practical path forward.
I connect planning, funding, and implementation to help public-sector and nonprofit organizations move their priorities forward.
Community &
Grants &
funding strategy
Align community priorities with federal, state, nonprofit, and foundation funding opportunities, from application through compliance.
Implementation &
partnerships
Bring agencies and stakeholders together to turn funded plans into coordinated, outcome-driven initiatives.
A little about me
Rooted in place.
Driven by possibility.
42%
of Fernandina Beach preserved as public open space through a conservation initiative I helped champion.
As a native Floridian, I believe thriving communities and protected natural resources belong in the same story.
That belief led me to urban planning. My career began with the Florida Park Service’s statewide AmeriCorps program and land acquisition at the Florida Communities Trust.
In Fernandina Beach, I grew from Planner II to Director of Planning & Conservation in 2018. By connecting the Community Redevelopment Agency with the Main Street program, we supported downtown recovery, protected its distinctive character, and encouraged private investment.
Today, as Principal Planning & Grants Strategist at OVID Solutions, I partner with local governments, economic development organizations, and utilities to identify infrastructure needs, align funding streams, and move long-range visions toward implementation.
My experience spans the full grant lifecycle, including projects such as the Amelia Island Trail and shoreline stabilization. I also serve on the Board of the Northeast Florida Regional Health Council and as Quality of Life Lead for the Resilient 1st Coast initiative.
More about my experience on LinkedInLet’s build what’s next
Great communities
start with a conversation.
Working through a planning, funding, or resilience challenge? Let’s connect and explore the possibilities.