Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency names Mellone Long Assistant Director

FORT MYERS, Fla.  — Mellone Long has been named Assistant Director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

In her new position, Long will assist the CRA Director in the operations of the agency and the implementation of projects and programs contained in the Community Redevelopment Plans. She will be involved to varying degrees in all facets of the organization including policy making, project management, budgeting, planning, personnel management and public relations. 

Long will work with the development and business community, citizen groups, government officials, public and private agencies, advisory board and City staff.

Long has worked as a practicing planner since 1998 in several levels and specialties. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Urban Management from Cleveland State University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, she began her career as an Economic Development Planner in Lorain County, OH.  In 2017, Long earned a doctorate from Clemson University in Planning/Public Sector Ethics. She continues to do research and publish on the subject.

From 2001-2007, Long served as Development and Neighborhood Planner, Planning Manager and ultimately Community Development Director for the City of Fort Myers. One of her first assignments was to help with the McCullum Hall redevelopment. She also was integral in the Dunbar annexation.

In 2007, she moved to Greenville, SC to become the Assistant County Administrator for Planning for Greenville County. 

Long also spent a year in Cameroon, Africa where she worked as a missionary.  She spent her time helping women who live in small villages develop their own businesses. 

After returning  to the US, she moved to Louisville, KY to work for the nonprofit Center for Neighborhoods (CFN) to engage with neighbors to build great neighborhoods.

“Mellone is a community builder. Working with the community is her strength and first love,” said Executive Director, Fort Myers CRA, Michele Hylton-Terry. “We are honored to have her join the CRA. She is very adept with micro-loan programs that assist very small businesses get on their feet and sustain themselves.”

About the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency was created in 1984 by the City of Fort Myers, Florida, under Florida Statute Chapter 163, to formulate a plan and strategy for the revitalization of the downtown River District.

The Fort Myers CRA has continued to grow, and redevelopment areas have been added throughout the city. Today, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency encourages and oversees redevelopment in four designated areas that contain a total of 14 distinct geographic sections within the Fort Myers city limits.

The Fort Myers CRA, along with the City’s Community Development Division, prepares plans for the revitalization of each area and coordinates the implementation of the plan’s recommendations. Tax Increment Funds (TIF) generated by each area, combined with other funding sources, are used to upgrade the public infrastructure and to stimulate redevelopment in the same area where it was generated.

The Fort Myers City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners, oversee the Agency’s divisions and their operations. The Fort Myers CRA office is located at 1400 Jackson Street in the Downtown River District.