MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Philadelphia, March 2, 2010—Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today that Angela Dowd-Burton will serve as the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). She will begin on March 15, 2010. Curtis Gregory will step down as the interim Executive Director of the OEO and will continue as Director of the Office of Business Services in the Commerce Department. In her position, Ms. Dowd-Burton will be responsible for implementing OEO’s recently announced strategic plan “Inclusion Works: Economic Opportunity Strategic Plan”. Ms. Dowd-Burton is joining the Administration from The Dow Chemical Company where she was the Manager of Government Affairs.rnrn“I appreciate Curtis and Kevin’s invaluable leadership of conceiving and creating the OEO’s strategic plan during this transition period. Now, I am looking forward to Angela implementing the strategic plan and ensuring that economic opportunity and inclusion becomes part of the culture of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Nutter.rnrn“This is an exciting new era for the Office of Economic Opportunity. Equipped with the new strategic plan, the OEO, under Angela’s leadership, is in a position to re-imagine how the City reaches minority-owned businesses,” said Kevin Dow, Acting Chief Operations Officer of the Commerce Department.rnrnAs Executive Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Ms. Dowd-Burton will implement the strategy to increase the opportunities available to Minority- Women- and disabled-owned business enterprises (MWDBEs) and to identify corporations, non-profit organizations, trade unions, Chambers of Commerce and lending agencies who will partner with the City to be part of the solution. Ms. Dowd-Burton’s salary will be $135,000.rnrnOn February 8th, the Mayor unveiled the OEO’s plan “Inclusion Works: Economic Opportunity Strategic Plan.” The plan outlines how the City will increase both the overall number of minority businesses in Philadelphia as well as how to increase the overall number of registered MWDBEs in the City.rnrnThe Office of Economic Opportunity promotes the economic development of MWDBEs through its certification program, contract review and monitoring activities, as well as ongoing interaction with other City departments, quasi-public agencies and the local marketplace.rnrnAngela Dowd-Burton was responsible for developing Rohm and Haas’ government relations communications, grassroots initiatives, and the corporate Political Action Committee. Dowd-Burton formerly worked in the Mayor Wilson Goode administration as Deputy Director of Finance and Procurement Commissioner.