There’s a new key player headed to the team at Berrien County’s lead economic development agency as Cornerstone Alliance announces the impending arrival of Stephanie Scott-Sims.
Scott-Sims will join the organization and serve as Director of Entrepreneurship and Placemaking beginning next month. As such, she will lead Small Business Services, which includes the Women’s Business Center and Microloan programs, as they work with small business owners to launch, grow and expand throughout the region. As a member of the Cornerstone Alliance executive team, Scott-Sims will lead the implementation of projects that make Southwest Michigan a more vibrant community.
Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland says, “Stephanie Scott-Sims is a tremendous addition to the Cornerstone Alliance team and I’m enthused that she’s chosen to stay and invest her resources and time in Berrien County.” He adds, “We need people like Stephanie in Southwest Michigan. She has a unique skillset and is a respected member of the community. Her vision and passion for making the Twin Cities area a better place to live will benefit all residents of Michigan’s Great Southwest.”
Among her responsibilities at Cornerstone Alliance, Scott-Sims will be responsible for growing business in the central business districts of downtown St. Joseph and downtown Benton Harbor, as well as the Benton Harbor Arts District. Scott-Sims will also collaborate to improve and diversify the housing stock in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.
Stephanie says, “Berrien County is home to strong communities, engaged residents and supportive businesses that care about the area,” and adds, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Cornerstone Alliance team, where I can build on this foundation by growing our small business economy and provide diverse housing solutions for all.”
Prior to joining Cornerstone Alliance, Scott-Sims served the City of Benton Harbor as the Director of Community & Economic Development. She was able to reestablish Benton Harbor’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and represented the City’s interests with the Parks and Recreation Conservancy, the Harbor Conservancy, and the Napier Avenue Corridor group.
Greg Vaugh, who serves Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Business Development at Cornerstone says, “In a short time in our community, Stephanie has already made a large impact.” Vaughn adds, “She has established herself as a thoughtful leader, whose integrity and desire to collaborate enable her to build consensus in order to deliver results. She is a welcome addition to the Cornerstone Alliance team.”
Scott-Sims is a professional Planner, confirmed by the American Institute of Certified Planners. She has developed her planning skills by working for municipalities of various sizes throughout several states across the nation. Currently, she also serves as a member of the Planning Commission in St. Joseph Charter Township
Cornerstone Alliance is a non-profit, investor-governed, economic development organization primarily focused on increasing employment opportunities, private sector capital investments and the local tax base in Michigan’s Great Southwest; with specialized business services offered in economically distressed areas.
