Developments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

We are thrilled to welcome Mario Gonzales as our new Event & Outreach Manager! 

He brings with him over 10 years of experience working (and volunteering) in various nonprofit areas ranging from youth development and community outreach –  to workforce development and second chance hiring – and political activism and human rights advocacy. 

Through the Michigan Main Street Vibrancy grant, 9 Michigan cities were awarded funding for mini makeovers and Downtown Lansing was one of them. Nubian, Sylvia’s Sudsery, Sweet Encounter Bakery and Café, and Summit Comics and Games were the local businesses chosen to complete small beautification projects within their storefronts

LANSING — Much like the “Detroit” sign placed alongside Interstate 94 during the NFL draft, Lansing is going to see its own Hollywood-style, placemaking sign installed near Lansing Community College.

The Lansing Economic Development Corporation and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing have opened a contest for seven artists to decorate each of the 6-foot-tall letters spelling out the city’s name.

The letters will go on permanent display at the intersection of North Grand Avenue and East Saginaw Street near downtown.

Sylvia’s Sudsery has officially opened its doors to customers in its new space at 223 S. Washington Square. The business was started in 2020 by Danielle Hastings. The grand opening of the self-care-centered store was held in May. Slyvia’s Sudsery was a recent graduate of DLI’s Middle Village accelerator program powered by Lake Trust, which empowers business owners by lowering barriers to entrepreneurship. This will be the fifth store that has opened a storefront downtown after completing the program. 

Atrium Building to house a fresh new downtown shopping experience  

LANSING, Mich. (April 18, 2024) - Middle Village, a small business retail accelerator program presented by Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) and powered by Lake Trust, announces five new businesses participating in its fourth cohort. Middle Village’s 2024 grand opening will be held on Thursday, May 2 at 11 a.m. at its new space located at 215 S. Washington Square in the historic Atrium Building in Downtown Lansing.  

Preserving the identity of our downtown Lansing is so important,” Executive Director Cathleen Edgerly said.

Downtown Lansing Inc. is helping breathe life into their neighborhood again with its new tenant improvement grant program.

“An improvement program that could help with filling the gaps for some of the cost that is needed to really revitalize, enhance, some of these historic buildings and make them available for modern day uses,” Edgerly said.

DLI has a million dollars from the state to fund the tenant improvement grant program.

“Knowing that there’s new growth ahead and new coming it’s exciting,” said Autumn Weston

Autumn Weston owns and operates Weston’s Kewpee Burger in downtown Lansing.

“I love downtown. It’s home to us,” Weston said.

Going on 101 years, the restaurant has been around to see many changes to the downtown area.

“Businesses are coming and going, foot traffic, construction, new shops,” Weston said.

But downtown Lansing is on the rise with all the projects happening.

Downtown Lansing will soon have a new look.

Multiple stores are set to receive mini makeovers thanks to The State’s Main Street Program. Danielle Hastings owns Sylvia’s Sudsery, one of the 4 shops chosen to get a part of the vibrancy grant from the state.

Funding for development projects was on the Lansing City Council agenda Monday as the group accepted state dollars to support a downtown housing project and renovate city hall.