Washtenaw County merges three departments - Announcing the Office of Community and Economic Development

Washtenaw County's Office of Community Development, Economic Development and Energy, and Employment Training and Community Services consolidated to form the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED).

The merger comes as the result of efforts by the County to maximize the use of funding and improve service delivery for Washtenaw County residents, in part by eliminating duplicative functions and increasing efficiency.  OCED will be organized into three service units – Human Services, Housing and Community Infrastructure, and Workforce and Economic Development; with a fourth unit – Finance and Operations – functioning as the department’s administrative hub. The former Community Development Director, Mary Jo Callan, will head the department with four unit managers reporting directly to her.

At a recent meeting with staff of the new department, Callan pointed to jobs and opportunities for residents to be fully engaged as a means to provide stability in our neighborhoods, healthy foundations for youth, and support for our local economy. Callan offered her vision for the newly consolidated department by saying, "we must enhance the vitality of Washtenaw County by developing opportunities for all residents to choose living wage employment, quality housing, stable neighborhoods, and needed community resources."

County Administrator Verna McDaniel added that, "in the face of looming cuts to federal, state and local revenues the realignment of these three departments is expected to foster a creative and collaborative environment to advance – in a nutshell – jobs and opportunity!"

For more information contact Mary Jo Callan at 734.622.9005 or email her at callanm@ewashtenaw.org. 

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