The IFS Cluster is quickly growing legs and will soon be completely up and running. Jamie Hess, Education Consultant, Office of Career and Technical Education of State of Michigan is working with the IFS members to help develop a new finance curriculum in Michigan schools. The Education Workgroup is starting to work on a regional asset map of resources, indentifying skill gaps, and connecting academic programs to business needs. The IFS has continued discussion with both MSU and Olive...

 The first group of roundtables has met 3 times and continues to collaborate. The second group plans to start meeting this fall. This group is looking for participants and will begin inviting fresh faces this week. 

 As our team focused on expanding regional services that are supportive of entrepreneurship and focused on innovation, we have developed “5 on 5 @ 5”, a new mentoring program for emerging entrepreneurs.  The inaugural ‘5 on 5 @ 5’ mentoring program brought this group together with five established entrepreneurs to create connections, collaboration, and camaraderie among innovators in the region.  Each of the entrepreneurs delivered their own individual message - whether it was in ...

Earlier this year, the group identified that there are 2500 new businesses that have started in the Greater Lansing region in the past 5 years, in 300+ different segments of business.  We evaluated the segments to determine which ones had the highest potential for economic impact and job growth.  In partnership with the Business 1st strategy team and the SBTDC, we are making contact with all companies with some form of communication (direct mail and electronic mail), and ensuring a per...

This web-based tool will feature a comprehensive database of the Greater Lansing region’s business resources and services, to help businesses at every stage of the business life cycle.  Users will be able to search relevant resources and then click the live link to access more information.  

Two new Business Roundtable groups kicked off in May.  22 business leaders from the region will be meeting monthly with peer business owners, leaders and executives to connect in a small group setting to exchange ideas, share insights and discuss business challenges and concerns.  The sessions will be led by a skilled facilitator in a confidential setting.  If you are interested in joining a future roundtable groups, please contact Leap Business Services Manager Dru Mitchell at 51...