Newsroom
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, we gathered insights from some of IEM’s experts to reflect on the program’s enduring impact on community resilience and recovery. Over the decades, CDBG programs have been instrumental in helping communities across the United States, including Puerto Rico, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, California, and Florida, to rebuild after disasters, restore normalcy, and mitigate future risks.
Through our work with CDBG-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and CDBG-Mitigation (CDBG-MIT), IEM’s experts have witnessed the positive effects on affordable housing, economic development, and public services. These efforts create safer, more resilient homes and infrastructure for all residents, especially the nation’s most vulnerable.
As we mark this significant milestone, we invite you to delve into our posts, where we explore how CDBG continues to transform lives by strengthening infrastructure, boosting economic development, and empowering communities to take charge of their recovery and resilience. Each story is a testament to CDBG’s enduring legacy and its role in creating stronger, more vibrant communities across the nation.
Team IEM Puerto Rico CDBG 50th Anniversary Spotlights: Aynette Carrión
With over 14 years of experience in grant management and disaster recovery, Aynette joined Team IEM in 2019 to support our on-island CDBG-DR-funded programs.
Team IEM Puerto Rico CDBG 50th Anniversary Spotlights: Carlos Ruiz
Carlos Ruiz is a professional engineer with an extensive background in housing and mitigation programs and administering multi-million-dollar construction projects in Puerto Rico.
Team IEM’s CDBG 50th Anniversary Spotlights: Earl Randall III
Earl Randall III has an extensive background in housing and urban development and provides his expertise to guide compliance and monitoring in IEM’s disaster recovery programs.
Team IEM Puerto Rico CDBG 50th Anniversary Spotlights: Gustavo Santiago
Gustavo Santiago is an experienced project manager focused on federally funded housing programs, legal and regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and resource management.
Team IEM’s CDBG 50th Anniversary Spotlights: Tim Lagudi
Tim Lagudi is a driving force in IEM’s housing and disaster recovery programs. His expertise in program and grants management guides recovery projects to better serve applicants in need, more quickly and efficiently completing projects with positive outcomes.
Team IEM’s CDBG 50th Anniversary Spotlights: Debra Smith
Dr. Debra Smith is a committed and well-known housing and disaster recovery expert. Since joining IEM in 2015, Debra’s strong leadership, meaningful insight, and all-around expertise have guided various disaster recovery programs to successfully assist communities’ post-disaster.
