DLI to match qualified rehab investments in Downtown up to $50,000 

LANSING, Mich. (July 1, 2024) - Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI), the management agency championing the revitalization of Downtown Lansing, announces the opening of applications for its new Tenant Improvement Grant, available from July 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. With a total of $1 million in grant funds, DLI will match 50% of eligible rehab investments with a cap of $50,000 per project.

“Our multi-use buildings and historic properties play a vital role in Downtown Lansing’s vibrancy and culture,” said Cathleen Edgerly, Executive Director of DLI. “DLI’s new Tenant Improvement Program serves as a way for us to reduce vacancies, rehab older vacant commercial buildings, and support business while enhancing physical appearances and improving the overall economic viability of Michigan’s Downtown.”

Over the past year, DLI has awarded over $1.8 million in grants exclusively to downtown businesses. The Tenant Improvement Grant program is a new resource available to downtown properties and businesses, prioritizing rehabbing and revitalizing historic buildings within Michigan’s downtown. Grants are only eligible to for-profit, non-tax-exempt businesses at this time.

The proposed project should meet at least one of the following program goals:

• Rehabilitation of a vacant building or existing tenant space to open or expand a business.
• Improvements to a vacant tenant space to establish an initial occupancy to open or expand a business. 
• Renovations or improvements to an existing building or tenant space (interior and exterior) to address code compliance issues affecting the economic viability of the proposed project. 
• The project creates new employment opportunities.

Applications for this first round of funding must be submitted to DLI by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2024. 

For application information and a full overview of the program, visit DowntownLansing.org/do-business/tools-and-programs/tenant-improvement. Questions about the grant program can be directed to julie@downtownlansing.org.

About Downtown Lansing Inc.
Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) is the downtown management agency dedicated to revitalizing and promoting economic development, urban planning, and community engagement in Michigan’s Downtown. A certified Main Street organization, DLI’s mission is to strengthen and nurture the culture, health, and sustainability of Downtown Lansing. Downtown Lansing is home to nearly 200 unique businesses, offering global dining experiences, wide-ranging retail offerings and unique events and attractions for all ages at all times of the day. In 2024, DLI received recognition as an industry-leading Main Street organization after being named a top 10 semifinalist in the 2024 Great American Main Street Award. Learn more about DLI at DowntownLansing.org.

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