HomeMy WebLinkAboutLansing Economic Development Corporation Minutes 04.10.26The Lansing EDC’s Mission is to improve the Lansing community by fostering
economic growth that is strategic, sustainable and equitable.
Board of Directors Meeting
Friday, April 10, 2026 – 8:30 A.M.
Lansing EDC Office – 401 S. Washington Sq., Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48933
MINUTES
Members Present: Shelley Davis Boyd, Calvin Jones, Jonathan Smith, Chaz Carrillo,
Dr. Cristina Benton, Dr. Alane Laws-Barker, Catherine Rathbun
Members Absent: Rawley Van Fossen, Bryan Britten, (Shelley Davis Boyd left at 9:30
A.M., Chaz Carrillo left at 9:19 A.M.)
Staff Present: Kris Klein, Amiee Evans, Alex Watkins, Chelsea Dowler, Aurelius
Christian, Shay Manawar, Brian Swett
Guests: William Love (Rehmann Robson), Rhonda Jones & Travis Sparks
(LBWL)
Call to Order
Chair Boyd called the Lansing Economic Development Corporation meeting to order at 8:30 A.M.
Approval of LEDC Board Meeting Minutes – Friday, March 6, 2026 (ACTION)
MOTION: Member Jones moved to approve the LEDC meeting minutes from Friday, March 6, 2026,
Board of Directors meeting, as presented. Motion seconded by Member Benton.
YEAS: Seven (7); unanimous; motion carried.
Lansing EDC FY2024/2025 Audited Financial Statements (ACTION)
William Love, of Rehmann Robson, presented the audited financial statements for Lansing EDC.
MOTION: Member Smith moved to approve the FY2024/2025 Audited Financial Statements for
Lansing EDC, as presented. Motion seconded by Member Carrillo.
YEAS: Seven (7); Unanimous; motion carried.
Lansing EDC FY2024/2025 Federal Single Audit (ACTION)
William Love, of Rehmann Robson, presented the Federal Single Audit results covering Federal grant
activity for the year.
MOTION: Member Smith moved to approve the Single Audit Report for Lansing EDC for FY2024/2025,
as presented. Motion seconded by Member Jones.
LEDC Board of Directors Meeting: Friday, April 10, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
YEAS: Seven (7); Unanimous; motion carried.
Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) Board Meeting Board meeting suspended by
Chair Boyd at 8:58 AM to begin Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (LBRA) Board
meeting.
Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) Board Meeting Resumed by Chair Boyd at
9:09 AM. Vice-Chair Jones took over for Chair Boyd at 9:30 AM.
Michigan Talent Partnership Grant Update
Klein presented an update of the Michigan Talent Partnership Grant.
Operations Update
Klein provided organizational updates, including:
• HR Recommendations:
o Continuing to meet with People Matters regarding performance evaluation process,
staff training, and other HR recommendations.
• Outreach and Engagement:
o The Lansing EDC team is involved in various outreach and engagement efforts,
including Riverfront Champions group, hosting event for 517 Entrepreneurship +
Innovation Week event today, various Emerging Developer Network events, and
participating on MEDA and LRCC panels.
o Lansing EDC will host staff and board members at a Lansing Lugnuts game on May 14.
o Downtown Lansing inc. is hosting a State of Downtown Workshop on April 14 and the
Save the Date cards for the Big Red Ball we shared.
• Marketing:
o The redesigned LansingEDC.com website is live.
o The 2025 Annual Report has been published, printed copies available next week.
o Planning for the 50th anniversary of Lansing EDC continues.
• Board Training:
o Vice-Chair Jones asked that the Business Development Strategies & Case Studies
training be postponed.
Project and Program Updates
Updates were presented on the following:
• Klein provided updates on:
o Deep Green: The developer of a proposed data center in downtown pulled their
request to purchase city-owned properties at E. Kalamazoo St. and S. Cedar St.
o SSRP/Plant 6 project: NorthPoint Development ended its partnership with RACER
Trust on the Plant 6 site and others in the area. Lansing EDC was notified mid-March.
The Lansing EDC team has met with the city administration, RACER Trust, NorthPoint,
and MEDC since this update, and has informed the Lansing EDC site and incentive
committee. NorthPoint’s departure provides an opportunity to consider other leads
for redevelopment of the site. Lansing EDC continues to manage the grant and will
LEDC Board of Directors Meeting: Friday, April 10, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
continue to market the site, including at April's Michigan Manufacturers Conference
as a sponsor and to present on the Plant 6 site.
o Lansing Shuffle: The Lansing Shuffle has a request before City Council for a public
vote on the sale of their building and premises at 325 Riverfront Drive, which is
currently being leased from the city, for placement on the August 4, 2026 ballot.
Lansing Shuffle’s goal is to secure long-term stability of their operations and deepen
investment in Lansing’s riverfront and downtown. An overview of the process and
commitments of Lansing Shuffle if a sale was to proceed were provided. Discussion
ensued.
• LEED Initiative:
Evans provided the following updates:
o Targeted Redevelopment
We received 10 qualified proposals for work related to the Baker-Donora and
Willow-Walnut targeted neighborhood redevelopment plans.
Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) has scored and met to discuss proposals.
JEC is working to schedule interviews with the finalist firms in the next two weeks.
Target is a mid-May commencement of activities with the selected firm.
Work will continue through the end of November 2026, with final deliverable
including an actionable implementation plan for each neighborhood.
o Technical Assistance Programming
SEED Academy capstone presentations and graduation is April 13 for Cohort 2.
Applications are live through May 1 for Cohort 4 of the Empower Program.
• Site & Incentive Committee is currently discussing and reviewing:
o Accelerated Reimbursement Loan Policy.
o Site Assessment Policy & Cost Share on Environmental Assessments.
o Evaluation of current fee structure and statewide best practices.
o Goal to have any recommendations of policies or amendments at June meeting.
Open Forum for LEDC Board Members
Rathbun - appreciated getting the notes from the March 06, 2026 meeting.
Smith – Let the Board know that he left LEO last week and started a consulting business.
Jones – Reminded Board members to let Swett know that they completed the ethics training material
given out at the last Board meeting and shared information on the upcoming Adopt a River event.
Other Business
None
Public Comment
None
Adjournment
Vice Chair Jones called the Lansing Economic Development Corporation meeting to adjournment at
9:51 A.M.
________________________________________________________
Kris Klein, President & CEO
Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC)