Steve Jonas CEcD
Steve Jonas is executive vice president of Saginaw Future Inc., a private nonprofit economic development agency serving Saginaw County, whose mission is to promote and increase private investment and job growth through attraction of new businesses and expansion of existing businesses.
Steve has been employed in economic development for over 25 years, starting his career in 1987 as a credit analyst for Saginaw County’s public loan fund. He then served as the regional Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) director before taking his current position as executive vice president of Saginaw Future in 1995.
Steve’s primary areas of responsibility include the Corporate Watch Program, a county-wide business retention call program, packaging business/tax incentives, serving as loan officer for Saginaw County’s Revolving Loan fund, grant writing and administrator for Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Community Development Block Grants and strategic planning and fundraising for the organization.
Steve is an active member of the International Economic Developers Council (IEDC), and has attained their Certified Economic and Community Development (CEcD) professional designation. Steve is also certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council.
Steve served for 3 years on the executive committee of the Michigan Economic Developers Association (MEDA), a state wide economic development association consisting of over 400 members, and is the 2002 past president of the organization. Steve also received recognition from MEDA as the MEDA Medalist of the Year Award winner for 2010. This is MEDA’s highest award given to economic developers for their contribution to the growth of his or her community.
Steve serves on many community boards, including the Saginaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board, the Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! Board, East Central Michigan’s Planning and Development Region’s ACAP Board, East Michigan Council of Governments Board and the Regional Economic Development Strategy Team Board.
Steve received his undergraduate BSBA degree, major in Finance, from Central Michigan University in 1984 and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Saginaw Valley State University in 1999. Steve maintains his CEcD certification by attending continuing education offered through the International Economic Developers Council.
