Nate Barnes - Developer
joined Invest Detroit through the Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program in July 2017. As manager of neighborhoods, Mr. Barnes supports the Strategic Neighborhood Fund’s real estate efforts by overseeing projects as they move from concept to completion, identifying potential land acquisition and development sites as well as developers, architects, and builders for projects. He also works with community members and community leadership to help identify local and independent retail opportunities. Most recently, Nate served as a housing development analyst with Community Housing Network, Inc., a nonprofit organization which provides housing and housing resources for vulnerable residents in southeast Michigan.
Mr. Barnes holds a Master ofUrban Planning from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan.
Maureen Anway - Community Engagement Coordinator
joined Invest Detroit in April 2017. She manages the participatory budgeting project in Southwest Detroit, builds relationships with residents and community stakeholders, and most recently managed the Property Owner Rent Relief Fund which helped business owners cover their rent during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Prior to Invest Detroit, Ms. Anway worked with immigrant communities in Texas at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, developing and executing outreach plans to connect individuals to legal services for civil rights or labor rights violations. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Lead Contact: Maureen Anway: Maureen.Anway@investdetroit.com – (313) 285-2151
Jermaine R. Ruffin - Vice President, Neighborhoods Team
is a vice president on the Neighborhoods Team with Invest Detroit. He holds a BA from Michigan State University-James Madison College and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan-Taubman College. Jermaine has held various positions in the fields of community and economic development including roles with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Most recently, he was the Associate Director for Equitable Planning & Legislative Affairs (Planning & Development) and prior to that, was the Director of Development-West (Housing & Revitalization) with the City of Detroit.