TWIN FALLS — Life can often feel like a marathon in the fast-paced, no-sleep business world.

Melinda Anderson knows this firsthand.

Anderson, the city’s incoming economic development director, ran marathons for nearly a decade, including the New York City Marathon, before receiving a master’s in business administration from Syracuse University in 1993.

“Economic development is definitely a marathon,” Anderson said. “It’s not a sprint. It isn’t a quick fix. It often can take quite a while to get deals done.”

City officials hope she will continue to spur growth in Twin Falls. Anderson also will lead the Urban Renewal Agency, which is responsible for maintaining and improving businesses downtown.

Anderson said the area boasts several advantages for growth and tourism: the interstate, a river, open space and a growing number of medical and retail outlets.

“I want the community to be as successful as possible and one of the ways to do that is to create a diversified economy,” she said. “I’ve been in economic development for a long time. I know what needs to be done.”

Anderson, 54, who lives in Coos Bay, Ore., received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Portland and has served in various agencies in Oregon: chambers of commerce in Molalla and Bend; the South Coast Development Council; and the Pony Village Mall.

Anderson, who spent two years in the Peace Corps in Romania, has been a private consultant since 2003.

Her arrival — she starts in January n ends a nearly four-month search since Dave McAlindin left after 18 years to work in Arizona. The council approved her appointment Monday.

“There are some tricks of trade that if you don’t have someone in the position, you just can’t take advantage of,” Twin Falls City Manager Tom Courtney said. “But we have always made the commitment that we would look into finding the right person and that’s what we did here.”

Jared S. Hopkins covers city and county government for the Times-News. He can be reached at (208) 735-3204 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.