Rachel Elsinga
Community Development Manager 
Michigan Economic Development Corporation​

In her current role as a Community Development Manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Rachel serves as the Greater Lansing regional point of contact for the communities in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties. She provides direct technical assistance to support the growth of vibrant, diverse, and resilient communities through economic development tools and resources focused on catalytic investments that attract and retain talent in Michigan. Prior to her role at the MEDC, Rachel served eight years as the Economic Development Manager for the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission leading community and economic development strategic planning and implementation activities for the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization. She describes her career as being centered on working as a community advocate: from finding ways to increase base-level capacity to creatively rethinking the wheel to break down economic barriers. Prior to her time at Tri-County, she held internships at the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University and the City of East Lansing. A native of the region, Rachel is a Michigan State University Alum (Go Green!) and resides in Delta Township with her family. Passionate about supporting all things local, you can find her enjoying the variety of markets, restaurants, shops, and events our communities have to offer.