Derek Crossman

Community Development Specialist, Utica, NY

About Derek

Derek is the Community Development Specialist for the City of Utica, New York. In his role, Derek participates in a wide range of city and collaborative initiatives related to economic development, community development, equity, housing, zoning, vacancy, transportation, and
public art. Derek administers and monitors the City’s annual allocation of federal entitlement funding, manages a variety of state-funded grant projects and programs, and supports Utica’s many community organizations and non-profits. Derek is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency.

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At the Christopherson Center

Prior to his current position, Derek worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Rust2Green (R2G) Utica Program as Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, providing support and implementation assistance for R2G-initiated community projects, creative place making, and
sustainability research. He also has nearly four years of experience with the Utica Urban Renewal Agency (URA) providing administrative support for the redevelopment of Utica’s downtown. Derek is currently pursuing his Master's in Regional Planning at the University at SUNY Albany; he received a Bachelor’s in Politics from Ithaca College with a focus in Integrated Marketing Communications in 2013.