Community & Economic Development

The Community & Economic Development Division (CED) aspires to implement City policies and provide programs and actions that enhance the economic, environmental and social well-being of the community and foster a healthy and vibrant downtown, a diverse and inclusive business community and sustainable neighborhood growth.

To further community and economic development initiatives in East Lansing and Greater Lansing, the City of East Lansing works with a number of community partners, such as the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Management Board, Local Development Finance Authority, community partners and neighborhood associations, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and Michigan State University (MSU).

East Lansing is a culturally and demographically diverse community, boasting world-class educational and cultural institutions, an emerging and vibrant knowledge economy, and plenty of recreational opportunities and community events. CED strives to incorporate inclusive and equitable economic development principles into our programming and services and continue to implement City Council policies that attract more diverse age groups and daytime population to live and work in the downtown.

Check out the following video posted by the Downtown East Lansing Facebook page, which showcases how the Daytime. Nighttime. Anytime. Place Project encourages safe, inclusive and accessible community gatherings in downtown East Lansing. View the video here. 

Please explore our programs! The CED website includes the following resources on CED programs and related information:

  1. Business Support Programs
  2. Community & Economic Data
  3. Downtown East Lansing
  4. Placemaking Initiatives
  5. Financial Assistance and Incentive Programs
  6. Local Plans, Guidance, & Studies
  7. Map Room
  8. Marketing & Promotions (coming soon)
  9. Projects
  10. Related Boards and Commissions
  11. Site Selection & Available Properties
  12. Why East Lansing?

Participate in Survey Requests

Community input is used to help the CED improve and design future projects and programming. Help the CED make informed decisions on community and economic development initiatives, promotional events and other programming to determine what is working, what needs modified to work better and what is simply not working by participating in stakeholder input and feedback surveys administered by CED staff. 

Discover current active surveys and historical survey data at:
www.cityofeastlansing.com/2225/Community-and-Economic-Data.

Stay Connected & Informed!

Communication is a two-way effort. To help ensure business owners are receiving efficient, effective and timely communications related to downtown and their business, please provide CED City staff with your most recent contact information. Click here to update your contact information. This information will also help CED staff market and promote your business, as well as list your business on our business listings. Contact the CED at: business.support@cityofeastlansing.com.

Sign Up for City of East Lansing E-News

Stay up-to-date on City of East Lansing news and events by signing up for the Dialog E-Newsletter, which is sent out every other Friday, and the East Lansing City Council Meeting Recaps, which are sent out after every regular and discussion-only City Council meeting. Sign up here: www.cityofeastlansing.com/enews.