NEW CASTLE – New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer named Carrie Casey General Manager of New Castle County’s Community Services department. She will assume the role December 15, pending County Council approval. She will fill the position by outgoing General Manager Marcus Henry, who announced his retirement last month. Casey has held the position as Manager of the New Castle County Division of Community Development and Housing since 2008.
“Carrie has an incredible track record of service at the state, federal and local levels, and possesses a true servant-leader’s heart, advocating for affordable housing in New Castle County residents,” said County Executive Meyer. “Her and her team’s incredible foresight to recommend purchasing the New Castle County Hope Center has changed the trajectory of hundreds of families and individuals facing housing insecurity. I am excited for her next step with New Castle County.”
"I am incredibly grateful for Marcus' leadership of the department, and his decade of service to the residents of the County, working directly for three different County Executives," said County Executive Meyer. "His legacy includes purchasing the Hope Center and acquiring the new Appoquinimink Library site for the people of New Castle County. Under his direction of Community Services, County signature events like the Ice Cream Festival, Sleep Under the Starts, and Holiday celebrations have flourished and have become an important part of the fabric that make New Castle County a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. We thank him for his service and wish him well in future endeavors."
In her current position, Casey is responsible for the management of $20 million in federal funding annually. Under her leadership, the Division was awarded over $15.0 million in additional HUD stimulus funding and the successful implementation of programs including the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Strong Neighborhood Housing Program. In 2020, Casey with her colleagues presented the case to New Castle County government to purchase the former Wilmington Sheraton South to serve people experiencing homelessness during Covid-19. The hotel, purchased on December 1, 2020, reopened on December 15, 2020 as the Hope Center.
“I am very excited by this nomination,” said chair of the Community Services committee Penrose Hollins. “Carrie’s passion for the human condition is unmatched. She has been a driving force and an inspiring leader for affordable housing in New Castle County. I believe she will bring that same level of commitment to our Library Services and to our senior population. We have a real winner here.”
“Carrie Casey has been an outstanding leader with regard to NCC’s housing programs and I look forward to her continued leadership as General Manager of Community Services,” said Councilwoman Lisa Diller.
Casey began her career as an assistant to the Governor of Delaware, Thomas R. Carper, and joined his staff when he was elected to the United States Senate, serving as Senator Carper’s Projects Director and New Castle County Director. Casey also worked as the Government and Advocacy Manager for St. Francis Hospital Foundation. Casey was the first Chairwoman of the Statewide Continuum of Care Board of Directors which is working to end homelessness in Delaware. She is the current President of the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, serves on the Board of Directors of First State Community Action Agency and is a Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Housing Advisory Council Member.
Casey was born and raised in New Castle and Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her husband, Mike and three children, Isabel, Michael and Tierney.