Zachary “Zach” Morris, EDFP, Executive Director, Market Van Buren, has been elected to serve a 3-year term on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Economic Developers Association (MEDA) starting in 2023.
MEDA is a professional society with members throughout the state that attract and grow business, create and retain jobs, and make our communities a better place to live. Zach joined MEDA in April 2017 and can be seen regularly at MEDA events, along with teaching the Workforce Development segment at Michigan’s Economic Development Basic Course. He quickly became active on MEDA’s Emerging Leaders Committee upon joining, helping develop programs that nurture younger leaders in the economic development profession.
Zach leads a two-county economic development organization, Market Van Buren, serving Cass and Van Buren counties in Southwest Michigan. Over the past six years, he and his team have supported over 40 projects and have been responsible for an economic impact of $244M, along with the creation and retention of 1,514 jobs. To help facilitate this growth, he led the formation of Van Buren County’s first ever economic development organization, expanded the organization to serve Cass County, and attracted more than 45 investors to date. To better serve small businesses impacted by covid, he was able to work with State and County leadership to revise the county revolving loan fund to help 12 small businesses gain access to $240k of working capital at a low interest rate.
Zach’s team is at the forefront of closing the rural high-speed internet divide and is working to help his community successfully transition post-closure of the Palisades nuclear plant. Zach holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Davenport University, is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, and a graduate of Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute, and a 2021 Development Counsellors International (DCI) 40 under 40 honoree.
Zach joins two Board Members that were re-elected this year: James McBryde, President and CEO, Middle Michigan Development Corporation and Samantha Seimer, MPA, EDFP, Vice President, Economic Development Services, AKT Peerless Environmental Services. We look forward to Zach Morris’ leadership in the coming years.
ABOUT MEDA
The Michigan Economic Developers Association has partnered with economic developers to grow their community in Michigan for nearly 65 years. By providing education, networking, and advocacy, MEDA makes it possible for professionals to do their job more effectively and efficiently. To learn more, see www.medaweb.org.
ABOUT MARKET VAN BUREN
Market Van Buren is a nonprofit focused on connecting people, investments, and organizations with strategies and services that improve the quality of life and economic conditions in Cass and Van Buren counties.
