Birmingham Office Holds Training and Recognizes Community Leader Who is Retiring After More Than 30 Years of Service

HUD and local partners trade knowledge and best practices

HUD Birmingham Field Office Director, Michael German (right) joins HUD Community Development Director Charles Franklin in recognizing City of Birmingham Community Development Director, Jim Fenstermaker, for more than thirty years of service administrating HUD programs in the State of Alabama.

Community Development Directors from across the state of Alabama were recently hosted by the HUD Birmingham office for updates on HUD funding levels, changes to the homeless Continuum of Care programs, and a comprehensive Fair Housing training.

The Fair Housing Training placed special emphasis on Section 3, a HUD program that requires that recipients of HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

The HUD team also used this occasion to recognize a retiring Community Development Director with more than thirty years of experience in administering federal programs. Jim Fenstermaker recently announced his intent to retire from his job as Community Development Director for the City of Birmingham. Fenstermaker is recognized as a leader in the state in finding innovative ways to implement HUD programs for the good of its intended recipients.

Michael German, HUD Field Office Director in Alabama, hopes for more sessions of exchange of knowledge and best practices. "It is a great day for us any time we get to spend the day with our partners. As we build relationships and get to know each other better, we only increase our expectations for what we can do on behalf of the constituency we serve," said German.

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