Don Hadsell

Don Hadsell FHC Board Chair, Retired, City of Sarasota and Sarasota County

Don Hadsell recently retired as the City of Sarasota's Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development. In 1994, Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota merged their housing and community development departments and named Hadsell as the first director of the newly formed agency. Hadsell is responsible for administering federal and state grants for both jurisdictions, which includes CDBG, HOME, SHIP, NSP and ESG. In 2013, the National Community Development Association awarded the Office of Housing and Community Development the Audrey Nelson Award for the $60 million comprehensive redevelopment initiative to revitalize the Newtown Neighborhood. This effort included the construction and rehabilitation of more than 200 housing units, commercial, drainage and road improvements and a new community center. Prior to coming to the City of Sarasota, Hadsell was the assistant director of planning and development with the City of Lakewood, Ohio. He received a bachelor’s degree in government from Monmouth College in Illinois and a master’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University.

Contact Information