Elaine Miller led the Binghamton Housing Authority as Executive Director from 2016 through 2021. Since joining the Housing Authority, Miller focused on expanding quality affordable housing in the community, and in 2020 opened a new $21 million mixed use project with 48 affordable apartments and commercial space on the ground floor featuring community services. This new development, named Canal Plaza, was built on the North Side of Binghamton on an environmentally contaminated site that was cleaned up as part of the project under the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program. Miller also oversaw millions of dollars in modernization projects at the Housing Authority.
Concurrent with her tenure as Executive Director, Miller served as CEO of two affiliated not-for-profits – Broome County Gang Prevention Inc., and Community Potential, Inc.
For three years prior, Miller was the Commissioner of Planning & Economic Development for Broome County where she led a department of professionals providing technical planning guidance and assistance to county leadership. During her tenure in that position the department developed a long-term Comprehensive Plan for Broome County, the first of its kind in 50 years. Under Miller’s leadership, the department oversaw the development and construction of a Regional Farmer’s Market on Upper Front Street in the Town of Dickinson. Miller was also a founding board member of the newly established Broome County Land Bank.
Previously, Miller spent eight years with the New York State Department of State, Division of Communities & Waterfronts, where she helped launch the Brownfield Opportunity Area’s Program, (BOA). Miller worked in partnership with communities throughout Central and Western New York to foster area-wide redevelopment and return blighted land to productive use, while restoring environmental quality. Miller managed dozens of projects where state resources were provided to achieve brownfield redevelopment planning, access to expert environmental and economic analysis, and environmental site assessments for strategic redevelopment parcels. Miller also worked closely with the NYS Regional Economic Development Councils, particularly those in the Central NY and the Finger Lakes regions, whereby tens of millions of dollars were won in competition with other areas of New York State for new job creating development projects.
Prior to joining the Department of State, Miller was the Deputy Mayor of the City of Binghamton for more than 10 years. In that capacity, she was involved in all aspects of city operations and administration. During that same time, Miller served as Vice president of the Binghamton Local Development Corporation, which was founded to encourage the location and expansion of manufacturing, commercial, and professional office operations, creating job opportunities for local residents and leveraging private investment in the community.
Miller has also held positions involving government finance and regional planning. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Public Policy Analysis from Binghamton University.
Miller currently serves on the Board of directors at Broome County Catholic Charities and as Chairwoman of the Board for Broome County Gang Prevention, Inc.; Previously, Miller served on many other Boards, including the Koffman Southern Tier High Tech Incubator, and the Broome County Land Bank. She received a Medal of Distinguished Service from Binghamton University Alumni Association in 2013, and is a recipient of the 2003 Delta Award for excellence in Public Service, conferred by the Binghamton University, Masters in Public Administration program.
Miller is a lifelong resident of the South Side of Binghamton, residing with her husband, daughter, father, and grandson.