Pending confirmation by the City Council, Alnasrawi will formally assume the role on July 1, leading the re-envisioned department, which will include business and workforce development functions, and the Church Street Marketplace.
Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced her intention to appoint Kara Alnasrawi as the next Director of the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO). Alnasrawi currently serves as the Director of the Department of Business & Workforce Development (BWD), and the Church Street Marketplace.
Alnasrawi was first appointed as the Executive Director of the Church Street Marketplace in 2019. She was then appointed to lead the newly created Department of Business and Workforce Development in 2022. Alnasrawi holds a master's degree in political economics and recently earned an executive certificate in economic development from the Harvard Kennedy School.
The mayor announced downsizing and layoffs of 18 city workers last week. This included CEDO director and longtime Progressive stalwart Brian Pine.
In her time with the City, Alnasrawi has launched several innovative projects including the City’s 0% revolving loan fund which is credited with creating or retaining over 100 jobs. She also led the City’s post-pandemic economic recovery plan, which included strategically distributing pandemic funds within the community. Under the Mulvaney-Stanak Administration, Alnasrawi has taken on additional responsibilities, including leading the City’s Memorial Block project team, and convening the internal ‘hot spots’ working group to address community safety challenges impacting public spaces throughout the center City.
“I am very proud to appoint Kara Alnasrawi as the next Director of the Community and Economic Development Office” said Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak “I have great confidence in her ability to offer strong leadership for the re-imagined CEDO, bring staff together to advance the department’s essential mission, and return the department to its stature as an engine for innovative community and economic development initiatives.”
Under the first phase of the Mayor’s ModernGov initiative, BWD and the Church Street Marketplace will be brought into CEDO, effective July 1, 2025. The Mayor and Director Alnasrawi will share more about the vision for this re-imagined department in the coming weeks, ahead of the May 28 budget meeting, where CEDO’s FY26 budget will be presented. This will include the plan for restructuring of City staff within CEDO and BWD and transfer of other staff and programs from CEDO into other departments, including Department of Finance and Administration and Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging (REIB).
“I am honored that Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak has asked me to lead CEDO at a time when equitable economic prosperity is under threat, said Director Kara Alnasrawi. “I grew up in this community and I am committed to improving the economic well-being of our residents; this includes creating jobs, increasing housing options, and attracting businesses. I look forward to doing this critical work alongside the amazing staff of a newly merged department; the revitalization of CEDO will be a collective effort, and I'm proud to be a part of it."
Through the annual process for appointing and reappointing Department Heads as outlined in the City Charter, the Mayor made the decision not to offer reappointment to CEDO Director Brian Pine.
The Mayor offered the following appreciation for Director Pine and his years of service to the City “Director Pine cares deeply about our community and the continued success of CEDO’s important mission. Burlington has directly benefited by his hard work in a number of areas, including the protection of low-income housing and evolving our Housing Trust Fund to be more impactful. I thank him for his dedication to our City.”
Director Pine will continue in the role until June 30, assisting with the merger and transition.
The administration is actively undergoing a process to identify an interim Director of the Church Street Marketplace. Director Alnasrawi will continue in the role until an interim is named.
5.14.2025. Office of Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
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