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Developments

Downtown Lansing Inc. awarded more than $1 million to bring young talent to city

Source: Jordyn Burrell with WILX

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Downtown Lansing Inc. has received over a million dollars from the state of Michigan to make improvements that will hopefully attract young people to move our city and stay here.

“Young people are leaving the state and young people from other places aren’t moving here,” said Ronald Fisher, Professor of Economics at Michigan State University.

LEO awards more than $1 million to Downtown Lansing Inc. to attract and retain young talent through placemaking

Lansing, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is announcing an award of $1,370,000 in grant funds to Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) through the Talent Investment Pilot program. The funds are a component of the fiscal year 2024 state budget supplemental appropriations administered by LEO and will be used to support streetscape improvements that help create the types of dense, walkable and vibrant city spaces sought after by younger generations of job seekers.

Dear Ollie & Co's Pulver Selected as One of Seven Lansing Placemaking Sign Artists

LANSING, Mich. – Mayor Andy Schor, in partnership with the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, the Saginaw Corridor Improvement Authority (SCIA), and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing today announced that artists have been chosen to decorate letters in the upcoming “LANSING” Sign Placemaking Project. A request for artists was released earlier this summer, asking for area artists to submit a proposed design for one letter in the project.

 

Featured winning artists include:

Downtown Lansing plans for growth and thriving city center

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Many buildings in Downtown Lansing sit vacant, and fewer workers commute to work, leading to even fewer businesses setting up shop.

Following a decline in foot traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic business leaders and officials are looking to bring back a thriving downtown.

The challenge Downtown Lansing is facing is moving beyond the nine-to-five routine it currently has. State employees commute downtown for work but that simply isn’t enough. Repurposing unused space is one option in hopes of transforming the heart of the city.

Sen. Anthony and Sweet Encounters’ Thompson-Frazier to Co-chair Downtown Lansing Inc.’s Inaugural Big Red Ball Fundraiser on Dec. 7

Sen. Anthony and Sweet Encounters’ Thompson-Frazier to Co-chair Downtown Lansing Inc.’s Inaugural Big Red Ball Fundraiser on Dec. 7 

New black-tie event aims to fuel the bold transformation of Michigan’s Downtown   

Restaurants adjust to new realities as downtown Lansing looks beyond the 9 to 5

Businesses and government leaders say they want to see Lansing have a vibrant downtown to grow mid-Michigan. But challenges remain amid with fewer office workers and increasing vacancy.


Joanna Liu left Taiwan nearly 20 years ago to live with her parents in Okemos. She started off preparing sushi to be sold at Meijer. One day, she visited Michigan’s Capital City and became inspired by the activity there.

“I came to downtown and I [saw] a lot of people walk around,” Liu said. “I told my mom, ‘one day I want to have a business here.’”

Double your Dollars - Purchase your Downtown Digital Dollars gift cards on Nov 30 and have your dollars doubled while funds last