Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP CDC Region 7 Grant Report 2013/2014

Application for Grant Dollars  Application for $90,000  Sub-Contracted with Generation E Institute  Engage Community  Certify Curriculum Facilitators  Hold the First Annual Lansing Celebrates Youth Entrepreneurship business plan showcase  Based on Generation E Battle Creek Model  April 30, 2014  Lansing Center

WHY?  Lansing’s last century was one of total stability  Lost our entrepreneurial spirit & competiveness  Became a second tier community behind other state communities  Under new LEAP 2012  New Economy Division was created  To revive and revolutionize the culture of the Lansing region toward entrepreneurship  Regional Innovation Network  Grants to incubators  Signed a contract to run the SmartZone & Technology Innovation Center  Re-built relationship with MSU Spartan Innovations/Foundation/F-RIB  Created the Hatching event  We want to reach the middle and high school students

Goals of this Youth Entrepreneurial Program:  Survey Students & Community  Determine likelihood of entrepreneurial interest  25 Public School District Students  Grades 6, 8 & 10  25 Students per grade  Train 56 educators & members of community  Those with access and capability of reaching potential student entrepreneurs  Hold “trade show” event featuring student entrepreneurs  LEAP to raise money for sponsorships & prizes  Each year, repeat & add on

Budget  Generation E Costs  Based on Community Size (Population)  Small, Medium & Large Communities  Includes Surveys, Community Engagement Events  Certification of facilitators  Training for Facilitators  56 Certified Facilitators  Ongoing Support for Certified Facilitators  Lansing Celebrates Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase  Full day event held at the Lansing Center  Students won $10,000 in prizes  $70,000  $15,000  LEAP Admin  $5,000

Results  Surveys  679 Total Survey Results  4 Districts  Held 5 Community Events around Lansing  Williamston  Holt  DeWitt  Lansing  Charlotte  Conducted eight 2-Day Training Seminars throughout the Region  Certified 59 Facilitators  Met Goal of 56  Lansing Community College Sponsored 3 Additional Facilitators

Lansing Celebrates Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase Results  April 30, Lansing Center  Included Junior Achievement, DECA & BPA Students  55 Student Entrepreneurs  44 Student Teams  $10,000 in prizes  Organic Dog Treats  Recycled Guitar String Jewelry  Photography Business  School Map Coloring Book

Invited 20 business leaders from sponsoring organizations to participate as judges “This was the best day of my life.” - Leslie Middle School Student

 Participating Students  DeWitt High School  Leslie Middle School  Eaton Rapids High School  Lansing Eastern High School  Charlotte High School  Olivet High School  Frankenmuth High School  West MI Academy of Environmental Services  Prize Sponsorships  Dean Transportation  MSU Federal Credit Union  Sparrow Health System  Prima Civitas Foundation  Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce  Neogen  Harvest Creative Services  Spartan Innovations  Accident Fund

Challenges  Support was there from the beginning  Action was not  Training lacked a contract and seriousness from certified facilitators  The facilitators (champions) are already embedded in the schools  We found them through this program  Ultimate deliverable to the participants was the event & advanced programming  Exclusive curriculum  Could not be exclusive to Generation E, chose to include other curriculums  Snow days conflicting with lesson plans  January - April

Future Plans  April 29, Lansing Center  Lansing Youth Startup Challenge  Business Plan Competition  2 Page Executive Summary  Include a Hatching Event  5 Minute Pitch  Funded by LEAP

Thank You to the MEDC! BOB TREZISE & SARA PARKINSON Lansing Economic Area Partnership | LEAP BOB TREZISE President & CEO SARA PARKINSON Director of Talent & Communications