Jennifer Pratt

Community Development Director

Jennifer Pratt has served in the City’s Community Development and Planning Office since 1998.  Always involved in Community and Economic Development activities, she was promoted through senior Planner, Assistant Director, and ultimately Director in October, 2014.  She oversees the following divisions within the department:  Housing Services which administers a number of federally-funded programs, including Section 8 Vouchers, CDBG, and HOME; Planning which conducts neighborhood and corridor planning initiatives, as well as coordination with all City Departments in the implementation of the City’s comprehensive plan; and Economic Development activities focused on the City’s financial participation and policy development. 

Since becoming Director, Jennifer initiated the establishment of the City’s first Economic Development Programs.  She also led the effort to align EnvisionCR, the City’s new comprehensive plan, with the City Council’s goals to enhance the physical, economic, and social fabric of the community.

Before serving in Cedar Rapids, Jennifer worked in the Quad Cities for the Bi-State Regional Commission and City of Moline, Illinois.  Jennifer holds a BA in Political Science from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois and an MA in Public Administration from Upper Iowa University.