Tracey Clark Jeffries, DBA
Hometown:
Florissant, Missouri
Connect: LinkedIn
Tracey is excited about all the opportunities her host community has – from growing small businesses to housing. She believes the community wants responsible growth and is ready for it! She hopes to achieve a strategic economic development plan that can serve as the blueprint for continued growth improving the quality of life for the people and businesses.
Tracey serves as a municipal advisor to multiple cities throughout the US providing strategic leadership and developing cultural initiative plans for economic development in rural and urban areas. Advising Mayors and Real Estate Developers in their project planning and identifying site opportunities. Served as an (SBA) resource counselor and advisor for technical assistance programming for over 10 years, she has mentored many small business development agencies in the creation of programming from small business initiatives and placed many small businesses in communities. Tracey continues to mentor women entrepreneurs, addressing economic inequity and racial barriers that continue to affect low-income communities.
Tracey served as the Strategic Planner for a regional planning initiative that sparked international highlights on the excessive police force and economic inequity in the region.
Some of her notoriety: Humanitarian Award from Webster University (Alumni), Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs (Inc Magazine ’15-’21), Top 100 St. Louisians, Top 50 Small Businesses, SBA White House of Public Engagement- Small Businesses, PWA, Top CEO.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Catalyzing Innovation and Corridor Revitalization in Michigan City
Host Community or Region:
Michigan City, Indiana
Host Organization:
Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City (EDCMC)
The Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City (EDCMC) is leading a bold effort to reimagine the city’s downtown and catalyze sustainable economic growth. With the support of ERC Fellow Tracey Clark Jeffries, this initiative is focused on two transformative priorities: launching a new Innovation Center and revitalizing the Michigan Boulevard and Franklin Street commercial corridors.
These efforts aim to unlock long-term economic opportunity by fostering entrepreneurship, improving access to small business support, and expanding workforce development initiatives. The ERC Fellow plays a pivotal role in stakeholder engagement, site analysis, feasibility studies, and capital campaign planning. The project also emphasizes inclusive economic growth, with targeted strategies to uplift historically underserved neighborhoods and communities.
Through cross-sector collaboration and phased implementation, EDCMC and its partners are laying the groundwork for an inclusive, innovation-driven economy that supports current residents while attracting future investment.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
