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Highlands Today

Housing Director Leaving For Immokalee Post

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By Jim  Konkoly | Highlands Today

Published: October 5, 2007

SEBRING — Housing assistance offered by Highlands County to low- and moderate-income people has grown 15 times larger than it was seven years ago, when Penny Phillippi took over the program.

That's one reason Phillippi is on the verge of becoming the first executive director of the new Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency.

When Phillippi became county housing director in November 2000, assistance programs totaled just under $700,000 per year. That figure is now more than $10 million annually.

Phillippi confirmed that she has a contract offer of $85,000 to head the Immokalee CRA. With a $6,000 per year car allowance, her total salary package would be $91,000.

While the new job would raise her salary by about $35,000, Phillippi said, "for me it was never an issue of money. I loved this job, I loved the challenge here, and I love Highlands County."

Phillippi said she plans to accept the new job in Collier County because "it's a great challenge. It's a brand new CRA and I would be opening the doors ... it's an exciting opportunity."

The Highlands County housing director said she was told her new job in Immokalee will be finalized pending a background check. Passing appears to be a slam dunk, since Phillippi passed a U.S. Secret Service background check before having dinner with then President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore on the South Lawn of the White House.

At the White House dinner in 1999, her consulting firm was recognized for securing a $100 million "empowerment zone" grant for revitalization of low-income neighborhoods in the neighboring cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk, Va.

"My first thought," said Guy Maxcy, chairman of the county commissioners, "would be that these are some big shoes to fill. Penny is a wonderful administrator and a godsend for affordable housing in Highlands County.

"We wish the best for her, of course, but it will be a big loss for our county," he added. "Hopefully, we'll be able to fill her shoes with somebody who'll be as on the ball as she was..."

Commissioner Barbara Stewart had similar praise for Phillippi.

"I'm very, very disappointed to see her go, she has done a wonderful job for our community," Stewart said. "She's friendly, she's smart, she's aggressive, she's gone after the money and she's really done a wonderful job."

Under Phillippi's tenure, the housing staff tripled, from two to six, and funding sources increased from one to six. Only one form of housing help, down payment assistance, was offered here in 2000. "Now," Phillippi said, "there is a whole menu of services."

Stewart called Phillippi's departure "a big loss to the county" and added, "On the other hand, I'm happy for her. She seems really excited, she has a new challenge and it's more than just housing, it's the total package of community redevelopment."

In Immokalee, Phillippi said, she will be working not only in affordable housing, but also in economic development, community revitalization, education and training programs. The goal of the CRA, she said, is launching a multi-faceted approach "to raise the standard of living for the people in Immokalee and revitalizing neighborhoods."

Credit for expanding Highlands County's housing programs has to go mainly to the county commissioners, Phillippi said. She said she accepted the job here in part as a challenge because colleagues in the housing field told her "you can't do affordable housing in rural areas."

"I really want to emphasize that I've worked with a phenomenal board of county commissioners," Phillippi said. "It's rare that you'll find a county commission that will support the housing needs of its lowest-income residents, and this department owes its successes to that commission. ..."

Phillippi is tentatively scheduled to begin her new job in Immokalee on Dec. 3.

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