President Barack Obama recently announced his intention to nominate Mercedes Márquez, General Manager, Los Angeles Housing Department to serve as HUD Assistant Secretary For Community Planning and Development. We are pleased to announce that Ms. Márquez will be delivering our Keynote Luncheon Address for the 2009 Spring Developers Forum, May 11-12 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California.

Mercedes Márquez assumed her duties as the General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) in January 2004. Mercedes returned to public service after serving as Vice-President for NH&RA Member Firm McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. where she oversaw developments throughout the Southwest and California. Prior to her time with McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc, she served in the Clinton administration as the Senior Counsel to the Secretary and Deputy General Counsel for Civil Rights and Fair Housing for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C.

Please Join us in Los Angeles to congratulate Mercedes and to network with a critical leader in President Obama’s housing and economic recovery team. There are too many new opportunities and changes happening in the affordable housing world for you to miss this event. Our members are the most sophisticated developers and professionals in the business program.

By joining us in Los Angeles you will be able to network with and learn from the best informed and most innovative developers involved in tax credit development, tax-exempt bond financing, FHA financing and the latest developments at HUD. Don’t take my word for it–the program speaks for itself…The meeting is just a few weeks away but there is still time to register and book your hotel room. Questions? Contact Thom Amdur at 202-939-1753 or tamdur@housingonline.com.

About Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD)

The Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) seeks to develop viable communities by promoting integrated approaches that provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate income persons. The primary means towards this end is the development of partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector, including for-profit and non-profit organizations. When Ms. Márquez in confirmed she will oversee several offices including the Office of Affordable Housing (OAHP), the Office of Economic Development (OED) and the Office of Environment and Energy. Programs administered by CPD’s include:

  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  • HOME Investment Partnerships
  • Renewal Communities & Empowerment Zones (RC/EZ)
  • The Economic Development Initiative (EDI)
  • Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
  • HUD’s Homeless Assistance Programs
  • Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
  • Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program