Meet Our Staff
Calvin Knowles, Jr., Director of Community Development
Mr. Knowles is responsible for program administration services for our clients. He utilizes vast experience with the CDBG entitlement and CDBG Small Cities Program to assist our clients with the implementation and progress reporting for Consolidated Plans. He coordinates construction with communities, non-profit organizations and other community stakeholders. Mr. Knowles is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal regulations, labor standards, procurement requirements, environmental activities, IDIS and other necessary issues connected with CDBG-funded projects. Mr. Knowles' skills and experience are enhanced by his in-depth knowledge of local government structure. He understands the issues facing communities trying to implement projects through the CDBG program and assists in navigating those issues to a successful outcome. Mr. Knowles served as the CDBG Program Manager for the Sarasota Office of Housing and Community Development for six years. His responsibilities included administering the CDBG program for both Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota. He served as a Project Analyst/Manager with a firm that provided special assessment programs for municipalities throughout Florida. He provided program administration services to the City of Homestead in relation to the CDBG Emergency funds provided as a result of Hurricane Andrew. Mr. Knowles has earned a Master of Public Administration from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism at the University Florida. He has received HUD training in the areas of IDIS, Section 108 and various aspects of the Community Development Block Grant Program.