Food Innovation Districts: A Small Business Solution for Food and Farm Entepreneurs

Bio: Laura Goddeeris is a Specialist with the Center for Regional Food Systems (formerly the CS Mott Group) at Michigan State University. She coordinates outreach engaging national organizations in improving food systems and community environments, linking ground-level efforts and national stakeholders to inform policy and systems change. Her recent work has focused on exploring opportunities for local governments to support regional food systems. Laura has a broad background in research, community activism and program administration. Prior to joining the Center for Regional Food Systems, she spent several years in Chicago, where worked on a wide range of community development, economic, and environmental issues, including a study of Chicago grocer location patterns, and a primer on Chicago’s community-based food system resources.

Education: Master of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2006 Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, Michigan State University, 2002

Bio: Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (NWMCOG); Traverse City, MI -Director for Regional Planning & Community Development (2007 - Present)

Education: Grand Valley State University (GVSU); Allendale, MI -Masters of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Urban and Regional Policy and Planning -Bachelors of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Operations Management