Chris Holman welcomes back Keith Lambert, COO of LEAP, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, Lansing, Michigan serving mid-Michigan.
Watch Keith and Chris discuss LEAP’s grant program revitalized small towns while IONETIX’s $25.75M investment cements Lansing’s MedTech momentum. #LEAP #LansingGrowth in the YouTube video shared below:
- Welcome back, remind the business community about LEAP?
- Keith, completion of LEAP’s Small Town Enhancement Grant Program Delivered Big Wins for Rural Communities, tell us about that?
- A big win last month, IONETIX set to invests $25.75M in Delta Township Facility, Creating 53 High-Tech Jobs and Advancing Lansing’s MedTech Leadership, what else should we know about this?
- What have been some other highlights from the first half of 2025, perhaps the recent Benchmarking report?6
- What else is on the horizon for the Lansing area?
Completion of LEAP’s Small Town Enhancement Grant Program Delivered Big Wins for Rural Communities
Program created lasting impact for small towns and communities across Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties
LANSING, Mich. (June 2025) — The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), proudly announces the successful completion of its first ever Small Town Enhancement Grant Program, which invested nearly $90,000 across five rural communities in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties.
Launched in early 2024, the program empowered small towns to breathe new life into community spaces that define local identity and economic potential. With projects now complete, the results speak volumes—showcasing how targeted investments can foster pride, encourage gathering, and create lasting impact.
“We believe that thriving, beautiful places are a cornerstone of economic growth,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “This program proves that with the right support, our small towns can build spaces that preserve their charm while embracing the future.”
“Everyone was really excited to hear the bell ring again,” said Becky Austin, Vermontville village clerk when referring to the town’s historic bell tower dating back to 1862. “This building has always been a gathering place. It means so much to our community to see it restored and honored.”
The project was celebrated with a community ribbon-cutting in November, capping off a journey that began with LEAP’s traveling “Small Town Road Show” and check presentation earlier in the summer.
Over in Maple Rapids, local favorite Phillips Cider Bar & Pizzeria received a long-overdue facelift, restoring the façade of the 120-year-old building while maintaining its vintage appeal. The revitalization is already helping reenergize the small town’s downtown corridor.
“We’ve had people stop by while local contractors were still finishing the job—just to say how excited they were,” said Gregg Smyth, owner of Phillips Cider Bar & Pizzeria. “This grant helped us invest in the town we love. There’s new energy here, and it’s just the beginning.”
The project was unveiled during a November ribbon cutting that drew crowds and cemented the site’s renewed role as a centerpiece of the community.
Other completed projects include the City of Ovid, which enhanced Main Street with new banners; the City of Leslie, which installed a new community pavilion; and the Village of Stockbridge, where a $25,000 grant transformed a vacant patio area next to Village Hall into a walkable community space designed for relaxation and connection.
LEAP is working to ensure every community in the Lansing region has a gathering space to make memories with loved ones, and access to enhancement resources that will instill pride in the town for generations to come. To learn more about the Small Town Enhancement Grant program and see before and after photos of the project, click here.
If the community you represent would benefit from a program like this, please complete our interest form to begin your journey!
About LEAP
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders partnering to build a stronger community for all — working every day to grow, retain and attract business to the Lansing, Michigan, region.
Expansion includes new cyclotron, advanced isotope lab, and strengthens Lansing’s position as a national MedTech innovation hub
Lansing, Mich. (June 6, 2025) — Yesterday, IONETIX, a leader in advanced radiopharmaceutical technologies, is investing $25.75 million to expand its Delta Township facility. The project will add a second cyclotron, and an advanced isotope processing laboratory. The expansion is expected to create 53 high-tech jobs and further accelerate innovation in life sciences and nuclear medicine manufacturing.
“IONETIX’s expansion is creating high-skill, high-value jobs and elevating the Lansing Region within the global medical technology landscape,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). “LEAP is proud to support this project and the ecosystem of innovative MedTech companies making our region a destination for biomedical research and economic opportunity.”
IONETIX marked the milestone with a community event at its Delta Township facility, bringing together company leaders, regional partners, and officials from across the state. Speakers included representatives from IONETIX, LEAP, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and Delta Township.
Founded in 2009 from technology developed at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, IONETIX has pioneered the world’s first commercial compact superconducting cyclotron, the ION-12SC, which is used to produce N-13 ammonia, one of the most accurate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD). The company has also expanded its focus to targeted alpha therapy (TAT), an emerging cancer treatment utilizing high-energy alpha particles to target cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue.
“Delta Township and the Lansing region offer the ideal environment for IONETIX’s continued growth. The area’s highly skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, and strong spirit of public-private collaboration make it the perfect location for our expansion,” said Kevin J. Cameron, Chief Executive Officer of IONETIX. “We are honored to invest in this community and proud that it is in the forefront of creating diagnostic and therapeutic innovations.”
This expansion aligns with IONETIX’s broader strategy to grow its radiopharmaceutical manufacturing network, advance commercialization of new therapies, and reinforce Michigan’s leadership in life sciences and medical technology innovation.
The State of Michigan, through the Michigan Business Development Program, awarded IONETIX $750,000 in incentives to support this expansion, ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled talent and continued innovation in the region.
We are thrilled with the company’s commitment to Michigan and the Lansing community by investing over $25 million to accelerate the efforts to one day cure cancer,” said Matt McCauley, Senior Vice President for Regional Development at the MEDC. “Team Michigan welcomes IONETIX Corporation’s expansion, furthering Michigan’s leadership in the life sciences and medical technology industries. We applaud the company’s vision to Make it in Michigan.
The IONETIX expansion reinforces Michigan’s strength in radiopharmaceutical innovation, building on Michigan State University’s no. 2 national ranking in nuclear physics and robust network of MedTech and life sciences companies across the region.
“Delta Township is proud to support IONETIX’s continued growth and the incredible impact this expansion will have on our local economy,” said Fonda Brewer, Delta Township Supervisor. “This investment not only brings dozens of high-tech, high-paying jobs to our community, but also solidifies Delta Township as a destination for cutting-edge MedTech innovation. We look forward to supporting IONETIX and the broader growth of Michigan’s life sciences sector.”
The addition of IONETIX to Michigan’s Health Core—a regional coalition of life sciences, healthcare, and technology leaders based in the Lansing Region—reaffirms the state’s position as a national leader in medical technology innovation.
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Watch IONETIX expand in Delta Twp. with Ribbon Cutting ceremony as $25.75M investment, adding 53 high-tech jobs and boosting Lansing’s MedTech and life sciences future. in the YouTube video shared below:
