Strategic investment in community gathering places and infrastructure will fuel small-town pride, attract talent, and create stronger foundations for business success
Lansing, Mich. (May 7, 2025) —The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is proud to announce that it has been awarded more than $2.27 million through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Grant program.
This transformative funding, distributed through LEAP’s Community Enhancement Grant (CEG) program, will support revitalization projects in 12 communities big and small, all across Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties.
From reimagined downtowns to reactivated public gathering spaces, these projects represent a bold investment in the places that shape our regional identity. By creating vibrant, welcoming spaces for residents and visitors alike, the CEG program aims to strengthen community pride, support small business growth, and attract new talent to the region.
“This is more than beautification—this is economic development,” said Bob Trezise, President and CEO of LEAP. “Public spaces define the heart and soul of our towns. When we invest in them, we’re investing in our people, in our small businesses, and in our region’s ability to compete for the future.”
The selected projects span a wide range of community enhancements from restoring historic assets and enhancing main streets to creating permanent infrastructure for events and placemaking initiatives.
These efforts directly support LEAP’s three-pronged strategy for regional growth: Business Development, entrepreneurship and small business development, and people/place/community growth strategies.
2025 CEG Project Highlights:
Bath Township – Streetscape improvements including lighting, wayfinding signs, and benches.
Charlotte Rising via City of Charlotte – Façade updates for multiple downtown businesses through a local grant program.
City of DeWitt – Construction of a new farmers market with expanded vendor and event space.
City of Grand Ledge – Installation of a new inclusive ADA playground near the central business district.
City of Lansing – Façade improvements for a variety of downtown businesses.
City of Mason – Revitalization of a blighted property near the grain elevator to enhance the community entrance.
City of Ovid – Enhancements to a pocket park near the downtown area.
City of St. Johns – Restoration of historic rail cars and façade upgrades in the downtown district.
Delhi Township – Development of a year-round Holt Farmers Market with indoor and outdoor vendor space.
Eagle Township – Restoration and accessibility upgrades to a community hall.
Village of Stockbridge – Village hall revitalization including an exterior patio to support community events.
Village of Vermontville – Repairs to a deteriorating pavilion in the village park.
Each of these awardees proposed high-impact projects that demonstrate strong community support, economic potential, and alignment with regional goals for vitality and growth.
This latest round of funding builds on LEAP’s successful 2024 Small Town Enhancement Grant program, which invested over $75,000 in communities with fewer than 10,000 residents. That program laid the groundwork for activating public spaces and igniting new energy in rural areas and smaller cities—setting a precedent for broader and deeper impact with the 2025 grants.
Emma Bostwick, LEAP’s Vice President of Business Attraction, emphasized the broader implications: “This is part of a larger regional vision. These investments will help our towns feel proud and energized, while also creating the kind of magnetic environments where entrepreneurs want to launch and grow, and where families want to stay.”
The grant awards were contingent on MEDC’s approval of LEAP’s unified application and collective project submissions on behalf of the Tri-County region. The success of this collaborative approach once again proves that regional unity can unlock resources individual communities would likely not have secured on their own.
LEAP continues to prioritize projects that are community-driven, economically strategic, and culturally significant. As this next wave of enhancements gets underway, LEAP reaffirms its commitment to making the Lansing region a place where people and businesses not only choose to be—but are proud to be.
To learn more about the Community Enhancement Grant program and to follow the projects as they progress, please visit this page.
