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The City of East Lansing's Department of Planning & Community Development works to create and grow the economic development sector in East Lansing. Through innovative programs, new economy initiatives and hands-on collaboration with developers and entrepreneurs, East Lansing has become a destination for corporations, organizations and entrepreneurs to start and expand their operations

 

The City of East Lansing works with a number of community partners, such as the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and Michigan State University (MSU), to further economic development initiatives in East Lansing and the Greater Lansing area. Just in the last year, the City celebrated the graduation of the first tenants of the East Lansing Technology Innovation Center, launched The Hatch program and expanded its high-tech incubation to virtual tenants. The City is also currently working to create additional office space in the downtown through several projects.

 

The City has also established an office district in its Northern Tier, paving the way for the successful opening and/or expansion of banking institutions and insurance companies. In addition, the City is preparing for the construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) - a $600 million facility that will provide research opportunities for approximately 1,000 scientists and researchers (construction is expected to take a decade). Additionally, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, scheduled to open in the fall of 2012 on the Michigan State University campus, will be a cultural gem anchoring the vibrant downtown.

 

East Lansing was named one of the 10 "Best College Towns to Start a Business" by Entrepreneur magazine in its October 2009 edition.





The City of East Lansing's Department of Planning & Community Development works to create and grow the economic development sector in East Lansing. Through innovative programs, new economy initiatives and hands-on collaboration with developers and entrepreneurs, East Lansing has become a destination for corporations, organizations and entrepreneurs to start and expand their operations

 

The City of East Lansing works with a number of community partners, such as the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and Michigan State University (MSU), to further economic development initiatives in East Lansing and the Greater Lansing area. Just in the last year, the City celebrated the graduation of the first tenants of the East Lansing Technology Innovation Center, launched The Hatch program and expanded its high-tech incubation to virtual tenants. The City is also currently working to create additional office space in the downtown through several projects.

 

The City has also established an office district in its Northern Tier, paving the way for the successful opening and/or expansion of banking institutions and insurance companies. In addition, the City is preparing for the construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) - a $600 million facility that will provide research opportunities for approximately 1,000 scientists and researchers (construction is expected to take a decade). Additionally, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, scheduled to open in the fall of 2012 on the Michigan State University campus, will be a cultural gem anchoring the vibrant downtown.

 

East Lansing was named one of the 10 "Best College Towns to Start a Business" by Entrepreneur magazine in its October 2009 edition.

  • The Hatch Made its 2011 Debut
    The Hatch, housed within the Technology Innovation Center, is designed to host, assist and enable student entrepreneurs to cultivate their business ventures within a creative, co-working environment.
     
  • City of East Lansing moves up in rankings for "2011 Best Cities for Job Growth"
    Forbes Magazine released a study regarding "2011 Best Cities for Job Growth." East Lansing is ranked highest of the Michigan cities included in the study and is the only mid-sized city in the Great Lakes region to earn a nod.
     
  • IBM Global Delivery Center and FRIB Come to East Lansing
    Since its opening, IBM has hired 350 people while the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a cutting-edge research facility to advance understanding of rare nuclear isotopes and the evolution of the cosmos, will provide research opportunities for approximately 1,000 scientists and researchers.
     
  • TIC Celebrates Three-Year Anniversary
    The East Lansing Technology Innovation Center (TIC), a business incubator for start-up companies created to facilitate growth of mid-Michigan’s technology-based economy, celebrated its three-year anniversary in October 2011. The TIC has been at or near full capacity since its opening in 2008.
     
  • MSU Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Grand Opening this Year
    The Eli and Edythe Board Art Museum, designed by world-renowned Zaha Hadid, will be a premier venue for international contemporary art. The MSU’s new art museum, currently under construction, will open in the fall of 2012.
     
  • East Lansing Identified as a Four-Star Community
    East Lansing was identified as a four-star community in the state for its work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development according to the 2011 eCities study, conducted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research.
     
  • Spartan Technology Development Expands in East Lansing
    East Lansing is growing its manufacturing base with the expansion of Spartan Technology Development’s Working Bugs unit on the city’s northeastern side. The move will add jobs to the new biochemical manufacturing facility.
     
  • LAUNCHED, A Celebration of Lansing-area Entrepreneurship
    LoudPixel, a TIC tenant, was awarded the City of East Lansing-sponsored innovation award at the third annual LAUNCHED event.
     
  • Biggby Coffee is one of the fastest growing coffee retail franchises in the U.S.
    Biggby Coffee, a specialty coffee, tea, smoothies and baked goods retail chain, founded in East Lansing in 1994, is one of the fastest growing coffee retail franchises in the U.S. The business has recently has recently moved up on the Entrepreneur Magazine annual Magazine annual Top 500 Franchise Report. It now has 126 locations in seven states. Biggby was also honored by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in the the Celebration of Regional Growth for its contribution to the local economy through investment and job creation.
     
  • Trowbridge Road Business Association
    The recently formed association of businesses and property owners is working on joint promotion and branding of the unique assets that the area has to offer. Recent improvements to the Trowbridge Road area include the renovation of the gas station and the opening of several restaurant and service businesses.
     
  • Brookfield Plaza Thrives
    Brookfield Plaza, the eastern gateway to the community, continues to grow. The plaza has recently added exciting new businesses to the already diverse and vibrant center.
     
  • Lansing-East Lansing Rank #1 in Nation for Job Growth
    The Lansing-East Lansing MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) ranked first in three job growth categories (Goods Producing, Manufacturing and Transportation and Utilities) in a report released in January 2012 by Urban Institute’s MetroTrends. The report tracked growth in jobs since June 2009.
     
  • Transportation Enhancement Grant
    The City is seeking to install non-motorized pathways, two pedestrian crosswalks and sharrow symbols in the outermost traffic lane, along East Grand River Avenue between Collingwood and Hagadorn Road. This work will be undertaken in coordination with roadway work that is slated to be done by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2013.
     
  • BioPhotonic Solutions Inc. and Phenometrics Inc. receive top awards from GLEQ
    Two East Lansing-based companies, BioPhotonic Solutions Inc. and Phenometrics Inc., received the first and second place award from the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, a statewide business plan competition, during ACE’12 entrepreneurship event.
  • The Hatch Made its 2011 Debut
    The Hatch, housed within the Technology Innovation Center, is designed to host, assist and enable student entrepreneurs to cultivate their business ventures within a creative, co-working environment.
     
  • City of East Lansing moves up in rankings for "2011 Best Cities for Job Growth"
    Forbes Magazine released a study regarding "2011 Best Cities for Job Growth." East Lansing is ranked highest of the Michigan cities included in the study and is the only mid-sized city in the Great Lakes region to earn a nod.
     
  • IBM Global Delivery Center and FRIB Come to East Lansing
    Since its opening, IBM has hired 350 people while the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a cutting-edge research facility to advance understanding of rare nuclear isotopes and the evolution of the cosmos, will provide research opportunities for approximately 1,000 scientists and researchers.
     
  • TIC Celebrates Three-Year Anniversary
    The East Lansing Technology Innovation Center (TIC), a business incubator for start-up companies created to facilitate growth of mid-Michigan’s technology-based economy, celebrated its three-year anniversary in October 2011. The TIC has been at or near full capacity since its opening in 2008.
     
  • MSU Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Grand Opening this Year
    The Eli and Edythe Board Art Museum, designed by world-renowned Zaha Hadid, will be a premier venue for international contemporary art. The MSU’s new art museum, currently under construction, will open in the fall of 2012.
     
  • East Lansing Identified as a Four-Star Community
    East Lansing was identified as a four-star community in the state for its work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development according to the 2011 eCities study, conducted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research.
     
  • Spartan Technology Development Expands in East Lansing
    East Lansing is growing its manufacturing base with the expansion of Spartan Technology Development’s Working Bugs unit on the city’s northeastern side. The move will add jobs to the new biochemical manufacturing facility.
     
  • LAUNCHED, A Celebration of Lansing-area Entrepreneurship
    LoudPixel, a TIC tenant, was awarded the City of East Lansing-sponsored innovation award at the third annual LAUNCHED event.
     
  • Biggby Coffee is one of the fastest growing coffee retail franchises in the U.S.
    Biggby Coffee, a specialty coffee, tea, smoothies and baked goods retail chain, founded in East Lansing in 1994, is one of the fastest growing coffee retail franchises in the U.S. The business has recently has recently moved up on the Entrepreneur Magazine annual Magazine annual Top 500 Franchise Report. It now has 126 locations in seven states. Biggby was also honored by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in the the Celebration of Regional Growth for its contribution to the local economy through investment and job creation.
     
  • Trowbridge Road Business Association
    The recently formed association of businesses and property owners is working on joint promotion and branding of the unique assets that the area has to offer. Recent improvements to the Trowbridge Road area include the renovation of the gas station and the opening of several restaurant and service businesses.
     
  • Brookfield Plaza Thrives
    Brookfield Plaza, the eastern gateway to the community, continues to grow. The plaza has recently added exciting new businesses to the already diverse and vibrant center.
     
  • Lansing-East Lansing Rank #1 in Nation for Job Growth
    The Lansing-East Lansing MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) ranked first in three job growth categories (Goods Producing, Manufacturing and Transportation and Utilities) in a report released in January 2012 by Urban Institute’s MetroTrends. The report tracked growth in jobs since June 2009.
     
  • Transportation Enhancement Grant
    The City is seeking to install non-motorized pathways, two pedestrian crosswalks and sharrow symbols in the outermost traffic lane, along East Grand River Avenue between Collingwood and Hagadorn Road. This work will be undertaken in coordination with roadway work that is slated to be done by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 2013.
     
  • BioPhotonic Solutions Inc. and Phenometrics Inc. receive top awards from GLEQ
    Two East Lansing-based companies, BioPhotonic Solutions Inc. and Phenometrics Inc., received the first and second place award from the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, a statewide business plan competition, during ACE’12 entrepreneurship event.

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