Brendan Griesemer, the recently-retired interim director of Planning and Development for the City of Springfield, has been named the executive director of Restore SGF, according to a news release.
Hired by the Restore SGF board of directors Jan. 11, Griesemer will formally start his new job on Jan. 16. The leadership position at the housing-focused nonprofit, which launched in 2021, has been held on an interim basis by Dana Elwell since June 2023.
Restore SGF debuted its first grant program in September, which aims to encourage reinvestment in Springfield’s neighborhoods by providing teams of homeowners with grants for qualifying improvements to their houses.
More recently, the nonprofit announced plans to add a homebuyer assistance arm with $466,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded by the City of Springfield.
“As these two programs prove successful over time, Restore SGF hopes to expand the boundaries of its programming and make more neighborhoods eligible for funding with a goal of diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods with rising home prices and a variety of housing options,” the news release reads.
Griesemer’s 27 year tenure with the city, which included six years as the assistant director of Planning and Development, came to a close earlier this month.
He was recognized at the Jan. 8 City Council meeting for a long list of accomplishments and efforts in the advancement of affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization in Springfield, including his role in the creation of the Springfield Community Land Trust and what is now the O’Reilly Center for Hope.
