Marva Smith Battle-Bey / Founder

Ms. Battle-Bey, Founder of VSEDC, passed away on April 7, 2016. Ms. Battle-Bey spearheaded the organization to accomplish over $60 million in economic development projects within the Vermont Slauson community. As a nationally recognized authority on economic development, Ms. Battle-Bey had attained academic recognition from the University of Southern California, where she was a  Ph.D. candidate and served on the Advisory Council for the School of Policy, Planning and Development. Active in a variety of organizations, Ms. Battle-Bey was a member and/or serves on the Board of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, Association of Women Business Entrepreneurs, the Southern California Business Development Center, a multi-bank CDC representing 30 lenders and a loan fund of $35 million; the California Economic Development Lending Initiative (CEDLI), and the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), which was co-founded by VSEDC. Ms. Battle-Bey possessed a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Urban Planning and Regional Planning, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration.

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