Deborah Stuart Email & Phone Number

City Of Mason

As the City Manager, she reports directly to the City Council. She is responsible for maintaining the management functions of city government and administering the day-to-day operations. She provides oversight of the City Council meeting agenda process, working closely with the City Council to establish long term strategic plans and short term targets to guide the operation of city government. She is responsible for a total staff of approximately 50 employees and an annual budget of approximately $15 million which includes both the operating and capital budgets.

Lansing, Michigan Area

Responsible for leadership of Community Incentives Team and over $100 million annually in Community Development Programs (State Community Development Block Grant Program; Community Revitalization Program; Urban Land Assembly Program; Core Community Fund; and Brownfield Redevelopment Program). As of March 2014, during her time in this role, the $250 Million in program funds have facilitated an anticipated 2.2 Billion in private investment and over 9000 jobs across Michigan. In this role, she meets with local and federal legislators on ways to improve both State and Federal programs. She also acts as a liaison with various State Department to assure the most effective use of Community Development Incentives Deborah also represents the Midwest on the COSCDA Board of Directors and advocates for changes to federal programs to make them more effective for States. She often presents to other States on the tools Michigan utilizes related to Community Development and how to effectively manage federally funded programs like CDBG. In this role, Deborah manages a team of 15.

Lansing, Mi

Deborah managed approximately $38 million annually in federal incentives that facilitated private investment and job creation in Michigan communities. During her time in this role the program transitioned from a high risk, low performing HUD grantee with multiple non-compliance issues to a high performing, model grantee. Deborah spent time on establishment of long-term strategies embraced by the team to improve the program that included development of policy/procedures, empowerment/training of sub-grantees, and innovations on program design. These strategies are still in the process of being implemented today by current management. In this role, Deborah managed eight staff.

Lansing, Michigan Area

Deborah provided technical assistance to communities in 26 Michigan counties through over 320 community visits and over 90 service requests that were related to legislation interpretation, available incentives, brownfield development, downtown development, and capacity building. She packaged various development projects that resulted in MEDC-incented development (CDBG Grants, Brownfield MBT Credits, MEGA Brownfield TIF, Renaissance Zones, Tourism Incentives) that led to private investment to numerous communities. She represented MEDC by providing presentations on various programs that the organization offers to over 65 groups to identify long-term goals and potential economic development tools that may assist in their success. She led the NOI (now Part I) rewrite process for all of MEDC’s downtown CDBG grant programs, coordinated the creation of fact sheets, and facilitating the creation of 2011 guidelines for those programs.

Jackson, Mi

Deborah was the staff liaison for the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and Local Development Financing Authority Boards including management of EPA Grant Funds, applying and being awarded EPA funds, including being selected to receive a $1 million RLF grant, marketing of brownfield incentives, and facilitating development of brownfield properties. She assisted with all economic development activities for the City, including marketing, packaging incentives, attending all retention visits, negotiating purchase and development agreements, and evaluating the financial feasibility of potential projects. She acted as resource for City Administration and City Council regarding all economic development incentives, relevant legislation and assisted in facilitating City projects, such as the Grand River Arts Walk, Train Depot Study, and Cool Cities Grant. She served as Acting Director for the department on a regular basis and supervised staff in this role.

Jackson, Mi

Working directly for a Board, Deborah marketed, packaged, and participated in economic development programs including: Façade Improvement Program, Residential Rehabilitation Program, Public Art, and Streetscape Improvements. She drafted personnel and accounting policies to streamline operations; managed personnel, which included implementation of the DDA internship program at no cost to organization and reorganization of the organizational structure based on the National Main Street Model. She supervised full time staff and interns in this role.

Jackson, Mi

Deborah designed promotional pieces: quarterly newsletters, marketed economic development opportunities, power point presentations, fliers, informational pieces & development of DDA website (www.jacksondda.org). She promoted, coordinated, & facilitated over 20 annual events: acted as chair, created press releases & advertisements, interviews, sponsorships, volunteer management, created new events as needed. She also performed administrative duties: minutes for all DDA meetings, event budgets, supervised temporary staff.

Master'S Degree, Public Administration

Activities and Societies: Masters Thesis: Funding Parking Management

Bachelor'S Degree, Design And Applied Arts

Study Abroad, Communication And Media Studies