Mike Grella

Mike Grella, Founder of Grella Partnership Strategies (GPS), and Chief Infrastructure Officer to Active Infrastructure, brings over 28 years of experience in economic development, workforce development, corporate site selection, community engagement & planning, lobbying and public policy.

Mike’s approach to economic development transactions and industrial real estate development is rooted in mutually beneficial public-private partnerships that engage community stakeholders throughout the entire project lifecycle from due diligence, site selection and entitlement, construction, and operations.

Prior to founding GPS, Mike created from the ground up and led Amazon.com and Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Economic Development teams, facilitating investments representing many billion dollars of capital investment and hundreds of thousands new jobs in 30 states and 15 countries.

Mike supported the launch and expansion of Amazon data center regions around the world and continues to support hyperscale data center development for several large tenants and developers. He also served as Legal Director and Director of Infrastructure for AWS.

Prior to joining Amazon, Mike advised dozens of Fortune 500 and large privately held companies on site selection and economic development matters.

GPS advises communities, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, utilities on best practices, strategies to attract digital infrastructure/data center/advanced manufacturing projects, conducts market analyses, high and best use assessments for property portfolios, and also consults on DEI/ESG strategy to create more inclusive, equitable, and resilient prosperity in communities.

Mike received his degree in Accounting from Villanova University, his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law, and is a member of the New York State Bar.