Jennifer Bruen coordinates the Michigan State University EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) at the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development. At both the University of Michigan and at MSU, Ms. Bruen has worked with hundreds of nonprofits, local governments, business owners, EDDs, and other economic development leaders to create innovative strategies to improve and strengthen Michigan’s communities and regions.
Serving on the Michigan Association of Planning’s (MAP) Government Relations Committee from 2007-2009, Bruen assisted with the development of numerous regional planning policies and practices addressing issues from wind energy to urban agriculture to right to farm. From 2011 to 2016 she served on the Michigan Economic Developers Association’s (MEDA) Annual Conference Planning and Advocacy committees, designing and implementing MEDA’s economic development education, training, and advocacy strategies. She has 20 years of experience in retail, tourism, and service in both Michigan and Colorado. Since 2014 she has served on the Michigan Inventor Coalition (MIC) board, encouraging Michigan garage, basement, and barn inventors. She also looks forward to continuing to work in South Africa and Tanzania in entrepreneurial development in the future.
Bruen earned a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from Indiana University. Both her master’s degree in GIS and urban and regional planning and her graduate certificate in historic preservation are from Eastern Michigan University.
Recent Presentations
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(April 2016)
Description of REI program, project partners, and follow-up investments
Bruen, J.
Presented at the EDA Showcase
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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(April 2016)
Description of REI program, project partners, and follow-up investments
Bruen, J.
Presented at the EDA National Conference
Washington, D.C.
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(September 2015)
Description of REI program, project partners, and follow-up investments
Bruen, J.
Presented at the UEDA Awards of Excellence
Anchorage, Alaska