October 2017 event convenes national thought leaders on university economic development issues

Media contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; 248-260-8466; barbara@eafocus.com

Flint, Mich. —August 16, 2017 — Jason Ball, President and COO of Flint-based Social Impact Philanthropy and Investment (SIPI), a platform for change providing business and operational services to social enterprises and nonprofits, as well as implementation and administration of government programs, has been invited to speak on social enterprise in Michigan at the 2017 Annual Summit of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA). The event takes place from Oct. 1 through 4 in Long Beach, California, and convenes thought leaders from throughout the country to share best practices in university economic development.

The invitation was extended by UEDA after Ball and SIPI CEO Steve Wolbert submitted their Michigan State University 2017 co-learning project on social entrepreneurship in legacy cities to UEDA. Entitled ‘Defining and Advancing Social Enterprise in Michigan’s Legacy Cities,’ the project will also be the title of Ball’s presentation at the UEDA summit.

In a co-learning project, multiple parties collaborate on research to generate new knowledge, with the findings and recommendations serving, in this case, as key resources for economic development practitioners and policymakers in Michigan. The MSU project is offered through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) and presentations will be made at the Innovate Michigan! Summit on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 in East Lansing.

Social enterprise and social entrepreneurship are often used interchangeably; because SIPI’s work focuses on organizations and not individuals, the organization uses the term enterprise. Legacy cities, a special focus of SIPI, are urban cities generally found in the Midwest that have lost at least 20% of their population since peaking in the 1950’s, yet still have a population of 50,000 or more and retain some vibrancy and economic potential. Michigan’s legacy cities include Detroit, Flint, Pontiac, Saginaw and Warren.

The theme of the UEDA Annual Summit is Delivering the Future: Higher Education’s Role in an Ever-Changing World.

“It is an honor to be invited to present at the UEDA event, where Michigan’s leadership in advancing the concept of social enterprise will be discussed before a national audience,” Ball said. “Our research creates a compelling picture of the role that this emerging economic development trend can play to revitalize legacy cities throughout the country.”

Ball is an experienced facilitator and consultant, having worked with a wide range of nonprofits, universities, local governments, and state agencies to drive community and economic development projects throughout Michigan. Prior to joining SIPI, he was the Director of Client Services for an economic development consulting firm in Lansing. Ball holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Grand Valley State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and has completed National Charrette Institute Certification. He is also a member of the Michigan Association of Planning’s government relations committee, and has served as chair since 2014.

For more information on the University Economic Development Association and the Annual Summit, please visit the UEDA website.

About Social Impact Philanthropy and Investment (SIPI)

Flint, Mich.-based Social Impact Philanthropy and Investment (SIPI) was founded as a platform for change in 2015 to transform legacy cities into economic hubs of opportunity for all.  Working with social enterprises and nonprofits, SIPI’s services include operations, human resources, finance, data analysis, fundraising, contract negotiations, strategic planning, training and community development to help build self-sustaining organizations.  SIPI also implements and administers community-focused programs for local, state and federal agencies. Learn more at http://sipi.solutions/.

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