Barry Cassidy Blog

 

barry goes to harrisburg

WORK EXPERIENCE 

Consultant – Phoenixville Steel Redevelopment

• Direct pre-development activities including public infrastructure, remediation and use planning

• Secure public financing by employing various public finance mechanisms

• Direct real estate out sales to potential developers and end users

• Direct effort to secure minor league baseball team and financing of related stadium

• Establishing a market position for the predevelopment activities of the project

Director - Main Street Community Development Corporation – Phoenixville PA - 2003 to present

• Inherited a program on the verge of losing operational funding

• Implemented Arts and Entertainment Economic Development Strategy

• Leveraged nine million government dollars for streetscape improvements, housing, crime prevention and open space preservation

• Restored building through DCED Façade program that won Preservation Pennsylvania Commercial Development restoration award 

• Over a 6 year period added $150,000,000 in assessed value providing a growth rate of 20.25%

South Street Headhouse Business District Authority – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 2001 to 2003

• Manage Entertainment District, emphasizing “Safe and Clean” program.

• Strategic Market Repositioning of South Street after the 2000 Mardi Gras riots.

• Secured $1,000,000 streetscape grant,
 $50,000 Second and Lombard fountain repair grant,
 $15,000 market analysis grant,
 $35,000 in promotions grants to enhance the district.

• Implemented Arts and Entertainment Economic Development Strategy.

• Developed Community Policing Plan

Main Street Manager – Downingtown, Pennsylvania – 1994 to 2001

• Supervised downtown revitalization, using the Main Street 4-Point approach.  

• Projects included streetscape, joint advertising, economic development, grant writing, and business district management.

• Supervised Brownfield remediation of Superfund site to bring it to statewide health residential standard

• Secured over $3,500,000 in grant funding for public works projects

Planning and Development Consultant – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1992 to 1994

• Obtained $500,000 train station revitalization grant and developed a low-interest loan pool in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

• Developed Business District Authority plan in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania.

• Housing and HOPE II consultant for Philadelphia’s Southwest Community Development Corporation (CDC).

Executive Director CDC – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1991 to 1992

• Executive Director of New Kensington CDC.  

• Organized and provided home mortgage counseling, leveraged vacant rehabilitation of low-income homeowner housing stock, administered energy assistance program (LIHEAP), and conducted fundraising.

• Packaged over $1,700,000 million in grant funding

• Acted as a pass through for other organizations to access CDBG Mortgage Counseling program

• Authored and administered training course for Delaware Valley Mortgage Plan

Main Street Manager – DuBois, Pennsylvania – 1986 to 1991

• Managed downtown revitalization utilizing the Main Street 4-point approach, including streetscape, tourist development, facade program, and fundraising.

• Secured funding to restore historic train station  

• Functioned as the redevelopment authority director and the parking authority director.

Main Street Manager – Lock Haven, Pennsylvania – 1985

• Inherited a program on the verge of losing operational funding

• Managed established 2-point program; main issues addressed included facade (design) and promotion.  

• One restored building received the commercial restoration award from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission.

Trade Readjustment Administrator – Charleroi, Pennsylvania –1981 to 1983

• Determined adjustment amounts in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor and Industry pass-through Federal program to aid those unjustly impacted by steel dumping in the United States.

• Performed tasks to enable clients to open regular Unemployment Compensation Claims

Weatherization Director – Washington, Pennsylvania – 1979 to 1981

• Inherited a program on the verge of losing operational funding

• Administered program to provide free weatherization services to low-income individuals.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore Investor Coordinator – Baltimore, Maryland – 1977 to 1979

• Provided bond issue first mortgage financing with a second mortgage for rehabilitation to low-income individuals.  

• Developed and managed Community Based Rental Corporation (Neighborhood Rental Corporation)

• Secured financing for large-scale project-based Section 8 (100) for Neighborhood Rental Corporation

County Executive Staff Position – Baltimore County, Maryland – 1975 to 1979

• Managed urban county fair, with main areas of focus including community relations, public speaking, production, fundraising, sales, and advertising. 

• The 11 day fair was largely a Baltimore Bi-centennial event 

• The County Fair featured Cypress Garden’s Ski Show, a host of nationally known music acts, high divers, auto thrill show, and circus acts booked through Ringling Brothers.

Union Business Agent – Memphis, Tennessee – 1973 to 1975

• Organized labor unions in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee for the United Furniture Workers Union.  

• Processed grievances through arbitration.

• Organized unions in factories located in Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

• Implemented change in the way exhaust systems were employed to eliminate particle matter from the workplace environment. 

AFSCME Council 13 Union Organizer – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – 1972

• Organized non-profit hospitals in Pennsylvania for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.

• Organized first private non profit hospital in Pennsylvania under Act 195

AFL – CIO Industrial Union Department Research Staff – Washington, D.C. – 1971

• Researched Occupational Safety and Health legislation (OSHA).

• Conducted national education program explaining the initial OSHA implementation

RECOGNITION

• Keystone Laureate – Presented by DCED as an Agent of Change

• Co-Founder – Pennsylvania Downtown Center

• Pennsylvania Local Arts Network – Board Treasurer

• Democratic Party – Baltimore Maryland, Committee person; Downingtown PA, Zone Leader

• Political Campaign – Advance staff, Brown for President, Maryland campaign, various state races

EDUCATION

• Carnegie Mellon University – Independent study course short of Masters of Public Management – 1984.

• West Virginia State College – B.A. in History Political Science – Graduated 1971.

• John F. Kennedy Memorial High School – Iselin, New Jersey – Graduated 1967

GRANTS SECURED

2010 Chester County $528,000 Streetscape Improvements

2010 Chester County $250,000 Water Line Improvements

2009 Chester County $450,000 Water Pant Improvements

2009 Community Development Block Grant $550,000 Paradise Street Sewer

2009 DECED $1,800,000 Water Pant Improvements

2008 Chester County $293,000 Streetscape

2007 Chester County $750,000 Water Plant Filtration System

2006 Commonwealth DCED $250,000 Residential Rehabilitation

2006 Hometown Streets $1,000,000 Streetscape 

2006 Chester County $1,000,000 Streetscape 

2005 DCNR $467,500 Park Acquisition

2005 Chester County $297,500 Park Acquisition

2005 Home Town Streets $1,000,000 Streetscape - Phoenixville

2005 Home Town Streets $1,000,000 Streetscape – West Grove

2005 DVRPC $34,600 Market Analysis

2005 Commonwealth DCED $14,400 Market Analysis

2005 Community Development Block Grant  $250,000 Neighborhood Streetscape

2005 Commonwealth DCED $250,000 Neighborhood Streetscape, Phoenixville

2004 Commonwealth DCED $250,000 Anchor Building, Phoenixville

2004 Commonwealth DCED $65,000 Administration and Facade

2002 City of Philadelphia Capital Budget $1,000,000 Streetscape, South Street 

2002 Commonwealth DCED $50,000 Fountain Repair, South Street

2002 Philadelphia Commerce Department $15,000 Market Analysis

2002 Philadelphia Commerce Department $20,000 Promotion Grants 

2000 Growing Greener $141,000 Riparian Buffer, Downingtown

2000 Community Development Block Grant $250,000 Community Center, Downingtown

2000 DVRPC $45,000 Charette Planning Grant, Downingtown

1999 T-21 $1,100,000 Streetscape, Downingtown

1999 Community and Economic Development Keystone Opportunity Zone, Downingtown

1998 Community and Economic Development $1,000,000 Industrial Sites Reuse

1998 Community and Economic Development $500,000 Streetscape

1998 Community Development Block Grant $349,000 Streetscape

1997 Department of Community Affairs $86,000 Main Street

1997 Department of Community Affairs $45,000 Historic Facade

1993 ISTEA $495,000 Train Station Coatesville

1993 Department of Community Affairs $95,000 Loan Fund

1992 Community Development Block Grant $600,000 Housing Rehab

1992 Community Development Block Grant $236,000 Mortgage Counseling

1992 Philadelphia Foundation $18,000 Administrative

1991 Community Development Block Grant $500,000 Housing Rehab

1991 Community Development Block Grant $218,000 Mortgage Counseling

1991 Pew Charitable Trusts $100,000 Administrative

1991 Fels Fund $45,000 Administrative

1991 Philadelphia Foundation $15,000 Administrative

1990 Department of Community Affairs $100,000 Housing Rehab, DuBois PA

1989 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts $30,000 Artist in Education

1988 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts $5,000 Artist Incentive

1987 Community Development Block Grant $250,000 Fire House Construction, DuBois PA

1987 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts $5,000 Artist Incentive

1986 Community Development Block Grant $275,000 Streetscape, DuBois PA

1986 Department of Community Affairs $86,000 Main Street

1986 Department of Community Affairs $75,000 Historic Facade

1986 Department of Community Affairs $30,000 Historic Facade

1985 Department of Community Affairs $100,000 Historic Facade

1985 Department of Community Affairs  $15,000 Market Analysis

1979 U.S. Housing and Urban Development   $100,000 Roof Repair, Washington County PA

Here is what i have done.  Clearly I am the candidate with the 
most experience in economic development and housing.