Melinda Clemons is senior director for Enterprise Community Partners’ Detroit market. She has been a mission-driven lender for over a decade. A Detroit native, Melinda has focused her career on using strategic lending to help rebuild underserved communities. She helped launch and served as fund manager for the $30 million Woodward Corridor Investment Fund and the $30 million Detroit Neighborhood Fund, organizations whose mission is to spur economic growth in the city of Detroit.  She most recently conceived and assisted in the creation of a lending fund to increase access and capital to developers of color in Detroit. 

Before coming to Enterprise in 2018, Melinda was Detroit market lead, she lent over $60 million to projects in Detroit. She led implementation of the strategic plan, promoted programmatic work and managed business development and funder relationships. Prior to joining Capital Impact in 2014, Melinda spent five years as a commercial lender at Urban Partnership Bank, a Community Development Financial Intuition (CDFI) and minority depository institution.  During her time there, she was responsible for the bank’s Detroit commercial lending activities.  Melinda also spent six years at JPMorgan Chase, leading their Commercial Real Estate Division as assistant vice president. 

Melinda received her M.B.A. and B.A. from the University of Michigan and has been named “A Woman of Excellence” by the Michigan Chronicle newspaper, as well as “50 Names to Know in Real Estate” and “Notable Woman in Finance” by Crain’s Detroit Business. As a 2017 Opportunity Finance Network Opportunities Fellow, she provided thought leadership to facilitate greater equity and inclusion nationwide. She serves on several boards and committees including Senior Housing Preservation Coalition, Detroit CDFI Coalition, Motor City Match and the Detroit Preservation Task Force. She also actively volunteers at various organizations including Forgotten Harvest, Meals on Wheels and Cass Social Services. When she is not working, Melinda enjoys spending time with her family and travelling.