Dugan named Deputy Commissioner of
Housing and Community Affairs
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The
head of the state’s Community Development Program has been named Deputy
Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Molly Dugan, who has worked in the
department since 2001, will take over the position on August 21, said DHCA
Commissioner John Hall.
“I am very excited to have
Molly moving into this position,” Hall said. “She has been an
outstanding leader at the Vermont Community Development Program, and I’m
sure that she will continue her success as deputy of the entire
department.”
Dugan, 38, of Richmond,
is a 1990 graduate of the University
of New Hampshire, where
she majored in Resource Economics and Political Science. She received her
Master of Public Administration from the University of Vermont
in 1996.
She administered a federal FmHA
housing and farm loan and grant program in New Hampshire
before relocating to Vermont
in 1993. While obtaining her graduate degree, she was an intern in
then-Governor Howard Dean’s office.
Following a stint as a research assistant
for UVM’s Department of Community Development and Applied Economics,
Dugan spent six years working as a legislative liaison for the Vermont League
of Cities and Towns before joining DHCA in 2001.
Dugan was promoted in 2002 to Director
of the Vermont Community Development Program; the program which administers the
state’s allocation of federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, approximately $8 million
annually.
During her tenure Dugan was involved
in the implementation of several high-profile projects involving CDBG funding,
including the Winooski downtown redevelopment project.
“I’m pleased and honored
to have this opportunity, and look forward to working with Commissioner Hall
and the entire Housing and Community Affairs team,” Dugan said.
“This department is a critical part of the Agency’s and Governor
Douglas’ efforts to strengthen Vermont’s
communities.”
Dugan replaces Jim Saudade, who was
promoted to deputy secretary under Kevin Dorn, Secretary of the Agency of
Commerce and Community Development, where the Department of Housing and
Community Affairs is located.
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