Celena Green
Hometown:
Tulsa, OK
Connect: LinkedIn
Celena is excited to contribute to cross-sector innovation to solve social and economic challenges, build relationships, share research, and strengthen local efforts. She is an inclusive prosperity advocate driven by the quote “be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Celena Green is a mission-driven leader, tech founder, and global champion for economic empowerment and inclusive prosperity. An expert in helping companies and organizations achieve results in order to grow, Celena has spent her career supporting social enterprises and small businesses as they build capacity, secure funding, and plan for succession. She is Founder of ProsperWorks, which provides tech tools and services to enable businesses to retain, engage and reward their frontline workers, and FoundRE, which aids property owners and municipalities in activating underutilized / vacant commercial spaces.
During the ERC Fellowship, Celena will be helping the NW Indiana Region to expand economic opportunity and activate vacant brownfields in the quantum computing fiber corridor.
ERC Project
Project Title:
New Business Attraction to Sites in The Quantum Computing Fiber Corridor
Host Community or Region:
Indiana
Host Organization:
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC)
With quantum computing fiber entering Chicagoland communities between Chicago, Ill. and South Bend, Ind., this fiber corridor presents immense opportunities for business development and attraction. The corridor runs through Gary, Lake Station, East Chicago, and Hammond, Ind. which all have an industrial heritage that has resulted in numerous underutilized and/or brownfield sites. Redevelopment of these sites for new businesses seeking proximity to fiber is imminent. To facilitate these efforts alongside local partners, the ERC Fellow will conduct site investigations within a mile of the fiber corridor, focusing on factors like zoning, infrastructure, and land ownership. The fellow will also engage with property owners and local communities to develop tailored redevelopment strategies for identified sites. The project's outcome aims at identifying eight sites, ranging from 10–50 acres, ready for business development or with specific redevelopment strategies. This effort will significantly impact Lake County by attracting new businesses seeking quantum computing access, boosting local economies, and revitalizing communities.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
