University Park Alliance, University Park Development Corporation merge

7/8/2010 - West Side Leader

University Park Alliance, University Park Development Corporation Merge

University Park Alliance (UPA) has announced that University Park Development Corp. (UPDC) has agreed to merge with UPA and enhance its efforts to transform the University Park neighborhood.

“The united organization will bring together both institutional and community perspectives to catalyze change that is transformational to the University Park neighborhood,” said UPA Board President Tony O’Leary. “It will focus investment in the neighborhood so there can be increased impact for every dollar spent in University Park.”

Doing business going forward as University Park Alliance, the new organization is an independent, board-governed 501(c)(3). Board members were installed and an executive committee was elected at a special meeting April 19.

“We are deeply grateful to the previous UPDC Board of Directors for their leadership and support,” said O’Leary.

Executive Director Ken Stapleton at the end of this month will return to Miami to reactivate his consulting firm. The UPA Board of Directors hopes to have a new executive director in place soon after that.

Through a strategic planning process and approval of the board, UPA’s new executive director will assess program priorities and potential future funding sources and will manage the organization and staff to achieve program objectives.