The Bellingham Business Journal

Whatcom County Planning Director David Stalheim has been appointed as the City of Bellingham’s new Block Grant Program Manager. Effective June 21, 2010, he will replace David Cahill, who recently retired after 25 years in the position.

“Dave [Stalheim] is the consummate professional public servant,” said Tim Stewart, Bellingham Planning & Community Development director.  “After a national recruitment that yielded a great pool of very well qualified local and national candidates, we determined that Dave was clearly the most qualified and the best fit for our organization.”

Stalheim was chosen after a competitive selection process, which included a number of screening steps and interviews with a panel of city staff and a representative from the Bellingham Housing Authority.  He will be paid a starting salary of $5,623 per month.

Stalheim will manage more than $2 million in annual federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership entitlement programs for the city. The programs support low- and moderate-income housing development, housing rehabilitation and health and human services.

Prior to coming to Whatcom County in late 2007, Stalheim developed and was responsible for the federal entitlement programs for the City of Wenatchee, where he served as community development director for nine years.

“The City of Bellingham is very fortunate that Dave has decided to join our team,” Stewart said. “He brings not only a wealth of professional and technical knowledge, outstanding management and leadership skills, but also integrity and the highest standards of professional conduct.”

Editor’s note: The Bellingham Business Journal is in the process of determining how David Stalheim’s move to the City of Bellingham will affect the Whatcom County Planning Department. This story will be updated when we obtain that information.