Lansing

As the Capital City for Michigan, Lansing serves as both the political heart of the state and a growing hub for innovation, culture and community. Anchored by the historic Michigan State Capitol, the city blends government, education and industry to create a dynamic regional economy.

In recent years, Lansing has experienced notable momentum through Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)-supported initiatives, including downtown redevelopment projects that are adding new housing, commercial space and vibrancy to key corridors like Michigan Avenue, as well as small business support in the city’s various districts.

Beyond its economic progress, Lansing offers a wide range of attractions and experiences, such as the scenic Lansing River Trail and family-friendly Potter Park Zoo. Under the eponymous nickname “Lanstronauts,” Lansing residents are proud of the city’s unique attributes and events, from the  olive burger to the annual holiday celebration Silver Bells in the City, attracting thousands of people to Downtown Lansing for a parade and tree lighting ceremony.

Together, these elements make Lansing a capital city that is not only rich in history and civic importance, but also welcoming, quirky and full of opportunities.

One City, Two Main Street Communities

The MEDC is committed to supporting the City of Lansing’s revitalization and preservation of its traditional commercial districts.

Case in point: Lansing is home to two Michigan Main Street (MMS) communities: Old Town Lansing and Downtown Lansing. Considered the art district of the Lansing area, Old Town Lansing became engaged with the MMS program in 2006, and in 2011, was named the winner of the Great American Main Street Award by the National Main Street Center Inc.

Celebrating 15 years as an MMS community in 2025, Downtown Lansing is continuing its work to create a thriving and inclusive district. Downtown Lansing, Inc. works to help businesses succeed through offerings like the Downtown Business Huddle, sign grant program, business trainings and resources available through MMS.

As MMS communities, Downtown Lansing and Old Town Lansing are eligible to receive Main Street Vibrancy grants of up to $25,000 from the Main Street Vibrancy Grant Program.

Most recently, Downtown Lansing received Main Street Vibrancy grants in February 2024 and May 2023, supporting small business mini-makeovers for downtown businesses and lighting for Artery Alley – part of a larger project to transform the alley space between Washtenaw and Allegan Street. In June 2025, Old Town Lansing received a Main Street Vibrancy grant for the installation of string lights over the sidewalk of the 1200 block of Turner Street to solidify Old Town as a destination for festivals and events and create a stronger pedestrian presence.

Placemaking Projects around Lansing

With support from the MEDC, Lansing has been breaking ground – and cutting ribbons – on major placemaking and community development projects throughout the city.

In January 2025, New Vision Lansing, LLC, and the City of Lansing received Michigan Strategic Fund Board approval for a Transformational Brownfield Plan to reimburse up to $202.2 million in brownfield eligible expenses to create more than 560 units of housing and increase the connectivity of Lansing’s diverse neighborhoods to improve overall economic vibrancy.

The project’s scope includes: 

• Tower on the Grand: Construction of a 26-story, mixed-use tower containing 287 residential units and commercial/retail space in both the tower and the Atrium Office Building;
• Redevelopment of a 10-story former office building on Washington Square into a mixed-use building containing 60 residential units and first floor retail space, as well as three-story parking deck;
• the Capitol Tower, a new construction of a six-story, mixed-use office space and 105 residential units;
• new construction of a seven-story, mixed-use building with two floors of integrated parking and five stories of residential space containing 90 units in Old Town;
• and the redevelopment of a five-story, mixed-use building containing first floor retail commercial space and 25 residential units on upper floors. 

Learn more about New Vision Lansing.

Through the MEDC’s Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) program, projects such as The Residences at Walter French and Brick Row are adding critical housing and vibrancy to underutilized property around the city.

Announced in November 2025, the Brick Row development on the 600 block of Michigan Avenue will revitalize three functionally obsolete, two-story buildings to create 15 apartments and 6,900 square feet of commercial space in the Stadium District of Downtown Lansing. When complete, the project is anticipated to add vibrancy and walkability to a bustling downtown corridor, steps from the Lansing Lugnuts’ Jackson Field and local businesses.

In January 2025, Lansing’s former Walter French High School opened its doors as The Residences at Walter French with all 76 units leased – and over 2,000 inquiries. With nearly $40 million in public and private investment, including a $5 million RAP grant awarded by the MEDC in 2022, Capital Area Housing Partnership transformed more than 200,000 square feet into affordable homes and essential community-serving space for the Lansing area.   

MEDC-Supported Business Projects in Lansing

From small businesses to companies on the forefront of U.S. defense innovation and battery production, the MEDC has supported investment and growth throughout Lansing.

LG Energy Solution, a global leader in battery technology, has a strong presence in the Lansing area, with a major lithium battery plant just west of the city. In March 2025, the MSF Board approved amendments to the MSF incentives authorized in January 2022 for the construction of the battery manufacturing facility, originally a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution. Through the sale of GM’s portion of the battery plant and 100% transfer of state incentives already secured for the facility, LG Energy Solution now wholly owns the facility – ensuring the project stays on track and high-tech jobs and battery manufacturing remain in Michigan. LG announced in April 2025 that the Lansing plant will manufacture batteries for Toyota.

Additionally, in March 2026, it was announced that LG Energy Solution would be partnering with Tesla to manufacture battery cells in Lansing, resulting in a $4.3 billion investment. According to CBS News, production at the LG Energy Solution facility is expected to begin in 2027.

In September 2025, the MSF Board approved a $7.52 million Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant for American Rheinmetall to create at least 450 new jobs and invest at least $31.7 million across the company’s Michigan facilities, including the company’s facility in Lansing. American Rheinmetall specializes in developing and manufacturing advanced tracked and wheeled military vehicles and subsystems as well as components for both defense and commercial markets. The investment ensures the company’s future growth will continue throughout the state of Michigan. 

Neogen Corporation, founded in Lansing in 1982, develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. In 2024, Neogen announced plans for a $200 million expansion at its campus east of the Stadium District, further elevating the company’s profile as a leader in the life sciences and agribusiness sectors. The MEDC supported the expansion, granting a Brownfield TIF for over $1.5 million.

The MEDC also uplifts small businesses throughout the Lansing region, through direct support as well as through its partnership with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). As an MEDC-supported SmartZone and Small Business Support Hub, LEAP offers resources and programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow their small businesses.

That includes Kendra Schneider of Takeout Takeout, who received assistance from LEAP’s TREK Small Business Support Hub and other programs to start her reusable food packaging company. Learn more about Kendra’s story.

The MEDC has also supported Lansing’s small businesses through its Match on Main grant program, including Elderly Instruments in Old Town. In 2022, Elderly received a $24,300 grant that went toward showroom improvements to further enhance customer experience. Learn more about Elderly’s second-generation CEO, Lillian Werbin, and how she’s playing an instrumental role in preserving its legacy.

Things to See and Do in Lansing

Across its various districts, Lansing offers a range of cultural attractions, particularly in its downtown area along Museum Drive. One standout is the Michigan History Center, home to the Michigan History Museum. This multi-floor museum guides visitors through the state’s past, beginning with Indigenous Anishinaabe cultures and progressing through industrialization into the modern era. Its exhibits combine artifacts, immersive displays and archival materials to create a chronological “walk through time,” making it a key destination for understanding Michigan’s identity and development.

The Impression 5 Science Center, an interactive museum designed especially for families and younger visitors, features more than 150 hands-on exhibits. The museum encourages exploration of scientific concepts like electricity, chemistry and fluid dynamics through play-based learning, making it a favorite destination for children.

Just across the way from Impression 5, the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum celebrates Lansing’s deep roots in the American automotive industry. Dedicated to pioneer Ransom E. Olds, the museum showcases historic vehicles, engines and memorabilia tracing transportation innovations from the late 19th century onward. Visitors can see everything from early Oldsmobiles to mid-20th-century models, illustrating how Lansing played a pivotal role in shaping automotive manufacturing and assembly-line production.

Together, these attractions highlight Lansing’s blend of history, science and industry, all within a walkable downtown district. Whether interested in the state’s cultural heritage, hands-on STEM learning or the legacy of American automobiles, the city offers a well-rounded and accessible set of points of interest.