James (Jim) F. Fenstermaker’s career can be encapsulated in three words: Leadership, Professionalism, and Excellence. Over his 30+ year progressively responsible career, he has demonstrated accomplishments in Community Development, Economic Development and Urban Planning. With the distinction of serving the City of Birmingham in several key positions (Director of Community Development, Deputy Director of Planning, and Grants Administrator), as well as serving as Jefferson County’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Jim possesses a thorough knowledge of HUD programs and regulations, extensive implementation experience, and hands on planning experience at the neighborhood, city and county levels.

Since relocating from Allentown, Pennsylvania to Montgomery, Alabama and then to Birmingham in 1978, Jim has positively impacted numerous lives and communities. From his involvement in redevelopment planning, urban design, commercial revitalization, neighborhood planning, historic preservation, floodplain management, and zoning administration, Jim’s fortitude has been recognized nationally, on the state level, and locally. Jim received national awards for excellence from NCDA in 2005 and from NAHRO in 2008 for City’s Main Street Commercial Revitalization Program and City of Birmingham’s Housing Redevelopment (Lemons to Lemonade) efforts, respectively. The Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association, the National Association for County Community and Economic Development, the Central Alabama Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) as well as the City of Leeds and Fairfield has recognized Jim’s contributions.

Prior to leaving public service in 2012, he supervised a staff of 50+ individuals managing Federal and State community development grants and programs which acquired approximately $10-15 million per year. This included CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOPWA, and Federal stimulus funds in excess of $11 million via NSP, HPRP and CDBG-R, NSP3 via both HUD and ADECA.

Jim possesses a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Bachelor of Science in Regional Planning from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is also certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Community Development Association (NCDA).

Jim resides in Kimberly, AL with his wife Sharon, has two children and is the proud granddad of two boys.