Manny DeMutis, Community Builder

A former steel town, Phoenixville, PA rose to prominence in the mid 19th Century. When the iron factory began its slow decline in the 1980s, the town, too, fell into disrepair. Slowly, due in part to its multicultural spirit, service-orientated citizens, and artistic vibe, Phoenixville began its resurrection.
Phoenixville’s renaissance is peppered with micro-distillers, farm-to-table restaurants, and boutiques. The crown jewel is native son Emmanuel ‘Manny’ DeMutis’s luxury apartment homes: Phoenix Village. The influx of development is a welcome economic boon. But how much of the soul of this place remains?
Under Manny’s leadership, this development harnessed the grit and reliance that still pulse through Phoenixville’s veins. Calling upon his immigrant roots, he built on the legacy of generations of steel workers who came to this country for good jobs and better lives. This is the story of one town’s transformation. It reminds us of what is possible not only for every community, but for every one of us.