Westside News and Events
CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Construction is coming to Saginaw Street
in 2010, including the following lane closures:
Traffic will be detoured from Saginaw to Jenison,
Shiawassee, and Walnut. If your business is located
in this area and you have not yet completed a site
access survey, please complete the survey to ensure
access to your business. Get the survey from
jessica@nwlansing.org.
The City of Lansing and Motion Marketing & Media
(M3) can create custom maps that you can give your
customers prior to and during construction, showing
detours, phasing, and access to your business. To get your custom map, contact Julie Becker at
julie@m3group.biz or 203-3333.
M3 will also be coordinating a billboard campaign to remind drivers that Saginaw Street
businesses are open. M3 would like to work with Westside businesses to host some special
events featuring Swish the Fish, the official mascot of the CSO Control Program.
Businesses can also work with the Westside Commercial Association to advertise any
construction specials or promotions in our neighborhood newsletters, which are direct mailed to
4,500 households and reach another 2,000 electronically. We can include articles on your
specials for no charge, or you can run ads in the print publications at very reasonable rates.
Contact jessica@nwlansing.org for rates and deadlines.
Above all, please bear in mind the CSO construction is a federally and state mandated
environmental project that is aiding the removal of 1.65 billion gallons of combined sewer
overflow entering our rivers. Swish and his fishy pals thank you for supporting these efforts and
staying positive during construction.
More info at www.lansingcso.com or 394-5566.
March 3 Westside Business Breakfast
The next Westside Business Breakfast will be Wednesday, March 3, from 8am-9am at 614 N.
Seymour.
The breakfast is being hosted and sponsored by Motion Marketing Media (M3), and will have a
special focus on marketing, promotions, publicity, image-making and other ways to GET
CUSTOMERS AND KEEP THEM.
The main speaker will be Tiffany Dowling, Chief Conversation Starter and President of Motion
Marketing Media. Tiffany has 19 years of experience in Public Relations as President of M3 and
formerly as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Michigan Department of Career
Development. She was a Greater Lansing Business Monthly Entrepreneurial Award winner in
2006, and has received numerous other awards for awareness campaigns, volunteer work and
journalism. She also started Capital Area Women's Lifestyle Magazine in 2007 and Co-Hosts In
Her Shoes, a new radio show that is "getting straight to the point on platforms that matter to
women". In December 2009, the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) announced
that Motion Marketing & Media (M3) was selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the
marketing consulting services category. Read more about Tiffany and M3 at www.m3group.
biz/talent/tiffany-dowling
At this breakfast, Tiffany will be offering information and ideas for her fellow Westside business
owners about how they can get their cash registers ringing and keep people coming in.
Please take advantage of this opportunity to receive guidance from an amazing resource person
in our area!
Please RSVP by March 1 to schippel@msu.edu.
Main Street Trainings
Feb 11 and 25
If you would like to attend either of these Main Street Associate Level trainings, email
jessica@nwlansing.org no later than Friday, February 5.
The Michigan Main Street program at MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) is
hosting a "Main Street in Practice" training this month. The training is being offered on:
Because Lansing's Westside is part of the Associate Level Main Street group, our staff,
committee members, and other volunteers are invited to attend.
This training will focus on what the business district was like before and after the Main Street
Program, according to volunteers, business owners, staff, and board members from the
community, as well as what it means to be in the Michigan Main Street Selected Level Program,
and the pros and cons from the local community perspective.
The Westside Commercial Association has been applying many of the principles and techniques
of the Main Street program in our work to create enjoyable and prosperous business and
residential areas on Lansing's Westside, particularly in the area of committee structure and
function. Learn more at www.michiganmainstreetcenter.com/Program.aspx
Welcome New Westside Businesses!
Collins Builders
Collins Builders will have a grand opening at
1712 West Saginaw (Saginaw and Cawood)
next month. This property was also vacant
and blighted for several years before Chris
Collins purchased the property last month. He
has completed beautiful exterior and interior
renovations. His business offers windows,
siding, doors, and roofing, and is a supplier
of Universal Windows Direct.
If you are undertaking any kind of home renovation project, be sure to give Chris a call at 517-202-
0184, email him at collins-builders@hotmail.com, or stop by 1712 W. Saginaw. Welcome Chris!
Telltale Photography
Telltale Photography is run by Melissa Keeley, who also serves on the WCA Promotions
Committee. Capital Gains Online Media recently wrote about the business:
In August 2008, she moved to Lansing, decided to create her own job and launched her own
photography business, Telltale Photography, in January 2009. Keeley works from her Westside
Lansing home, but travels throughout the region to shoot weddings and portraits. "I'm lucky in
that I'm in an industry that's going to exist regardless of the economy," she says. "Everyone's
always going to want wedding photographs and it kind of fits a niche market for people who really
value a storytelling element in photography."
Check out Telltale's amazing photo blog at
www.telltalephotography.com or contact
melissa@telltalephotography.com
Jimmy's Smoke Shop
Jimmy's Smoke Shop opened at 1830 W.
Saginaw in December. This property was also
vacant for several years and is now a retail
location offering t-shirts, sweatshirts, snacks,
and as the owner, Rockie says, other "big city
urban items". Stop by and check it out, at
Saginaw and Verlinden, across from Irish Pub.
Promoting Lansing's Westside - Advertising Survey
The goal of the Westside Commercial Association Promotions Committee is to bring people to
Lansing's Westside. The committee is working to understand our potential customers and
competition, identify our assets (people, buildings, heritage, and institutions), and define our
"niche" position in the marketplace by creating new image campaigns, retail promotions, and
special events to bring people to our area.
WCA Holiday Ad 2009
The committee worked together on the two beautiful full-page holiday ads in Lansing City Pulse
in December and January.
To aid in the development of an annual promotional plan for Lansing's Westside, the Promotions
Committee has investigated cooperative and discount advertising prices for Westside
businesses from various media outlets, and created a survey based on those options, enclosed
with the hard copy of your February newsletter. Please complete the Westside Commercial
Association Cooperative Advertisement Survey by February 8 so that the Promotions Committee
can get a better idea of what kinds of district-wide advertising you are interested in. For more info,
contact WCA Promotions Committee Chair, Lisa Benck at 648-0036 or lisa.benck@gmail.com.
Westside Summer Fest is July 24
This annual celebration of community and diversity takes
place at Saginaw & Princeton in the large parking lot
behind Park Furniture. More than 8,000 people attended
in 2009.
Activities include live music, a farmers' and artisans
market, a kids' 3 v 3 basketball tournament, bicycle rodeo
and helmet giveaway, health expo and passport to
wellness, children's building, garden, art, and science activities, and more. For 2010, also expect
a slam dunk and free-throw competitions.
Sponsorship options are available from $250 up to $10,000, and provide excellent recognition of
your business or organization. To learn more about sponsoring, contact jessica@nwlansing.org.
There are vendor and display opportunities, lots of ways to be part of the event, sell your product,
promote your business, and contribute to the community.
Visit www.westsidesummerfest.com for past year's photos, vendor forms, sponsor info, and
more, or contact Nikki Schippel at schippel@msu.edu or 248-376-6061.
Holy Cross Property Update
The property that formerly housed Holy Cross Church was listed for sale in September 2009
following consolidation with St. Mary's in Downtown Lansing.
The property is 4.7 acres, with three buildings totaling 56,000 square feet and 200 parking
spaces. The property was appraised for $2.3 million in the summer of 2009, and the list price is
$1.8 million.
For more information or to view the property, visit www.holycrosssale.com or contact Mitch Crank
of Looking Glass Century 21 Realty at 517-290-6885 or mcrank@century21.com.
Saginaw Street Corridor Improvement Authority Act and Road Diet Update
The Saginaw Street CIAA was created by the Lansing City Council on November 2, 2009. The
next step in the process is to appoint members to the board of the Saginaw Street CIAA, which is
done by the Mayor. The group will then work with the Lansing Economic Development
Corporation, Lansing Public Service Department, and Westside Commercial Association to
create improvement/beautification plan for Saginaw Street. According to the Corridor
Improvement Act of 2005, the board shall have nine (9) members, one (1) of whom is the Mayor
(or a representative of), one (1) of whom is a resident within a half mile of the corridor, one (1) of
whom is a property owner, one (1) of whom is a business owner. The remaining five (5)
appointees will have some affiliation with Saginaw Street revitalization efforts.
In September 2008 the Lansing Master Plan Team completed a study to weight the impacts of
converting Saginaw and Oakland to two-way streets or and/or reducing one or more traffic lanes.
That studied found that a two-way conversion would likely result in a level of traffic congestion
unacceptable to the Michigan Department of Transportation, which has authority over these
roads. While a two-way conversion would greatly increase access to local businesses, it might
also create traffic diversions and problems for the region's overall transportation system. The
consultants recommended that one traffic lane be removed on Saginaw Street, and that the extra
lane be used for a bicycle lane and/or landscaping - street trees and other greenery.
In 2009, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission completed a required study showing
removing a lane from Saginaw Street would not adversely impact our regional air quality.
The next step in reconfiguring Saginaw Street is MDOT approval of the project and determination
of funding for the restriping and other improvements.
Managing the Capital Campaign - March 3-5
For all of the WCA non-profit members...
The Fund Raising School will be offering its course Managing the Capital Campaign March 3-5 at
the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center (55 Harrison Road, East Lansing MI).
As a class that counts for 2.0 CEU's toward earning a Certificate in Fund Raising Management,
attendees will learn how to determine an organization's readiness to run a capital campaign;
plan a campaign from start to finish; enlist and motivate the right volunteer leadership; conduct
prospect research; integrate capital fund raising in an overall development plan;and learn current
trends in fund raising.
The fee for this course is $800, reduced from its regular $1,125. Besides class time, it includes
a comprehensive study guide; best practices and advice on capital campaigns; a checklist for
gauging readiness; marketing tools to assess campaign feasibility; and exercises in goal setting
and working with volunteers.
Classes run from 8:00am until 5:00pm, and are limited to 40 people. To register visit www.
penceconsulting.com or contact Carole Pence at 906-228-2972.
Anti-Racism Workshop:
February 19-22 and March 19-22
For anyone wishing to learn more about themselves and unlearning racism...
Offered by the Leaven Center located in Lyons, Michigan. Doing Our Own Work: A Seminar for
Anti-racist White People is an intensive seminar for white people who seek to deepen their
commitment to confronting and challenging racism and white privilege. Doing Our Own Work is
designed as a supplement to, not a substitute for, contexts where people of diverse races
discuss and strategize together how racism can be challenged.
The seminar consists of two extended weekends, providing more than 45 hours of "class time."
Each participant is invited to identify a "sphere of influence" in her/his life that will serve as the
focus of action and reflection. Utilizing input from the leaders, assigned readings, videos, group
discussion, and structured exercises, participants explore several topics and issues.
More details at www.leaven.org/upcoming.htm#doow or contact The Leaven Center at 989-855-
2606. The cost is $690 ($100 deposit and $590 balance due). The balance may be paid in
installments extending beyond the close of the seminar. The cost includes program, materials,
lodging, and meals. Partial scholarships are available.
Lansing's Westside Facebook Page
Lansing's Westside Facebook Fan Page is now up to 414 members who receive our updates
and news feeds about Westside businesses, events and projects.
Join today at: www.facebook.com/pages/Lansings-Westside/110434036042?ref=ts
And check out our photo galleries, recent posts, related pages and fellow members.
Promoting the Westside Commercial Association
This month the WCA is bringing flyers and posters to Westside business regarding involvement
in revitalizing our area. This Get Involved! Campaign is targeting Westside business owners,
managers, employees, customers, residents and other stakeholders. While we have formed two
of our Main Street Committees, they need additional members in order to take on projects.
The Organization Committee meets on 2nd Wednesdays from 5pm-6pm, and the Promotions
Committee will be meeting 1st Thursdays from 12pm-1pm. Anyone can become a dues-paying
member— see membership rates to the left. If you or someone you know is a candidate for
serving on a committee, please contact Jessica at jessica@nwlansing.org or 517-214-5684.
Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan
The Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan (EIMM) is a non-profit organization whose mission is
to create opportunities for entrepreneurs by offering business plan development and financial
trainings, access to capital and networking opportunities.
This Practical Hands On 15 week Business Plan Development training program is designed to
guide entrepreneurs through the process of developing & writing a business plan. All elements
of a business plan will be covered as well as access to the resources necessary to manage a
successful business enterprise. The program will offer networking opportunities with business
owners in the community.
To receive updates from EIMM, fill out the online form at www.eim-m.org or contact Denise
Peek at 853-5890 or lancomme@tir.net.
Fall Clean Sweep Success
Curious about the history of your neighborhood? Click here for a PDF of the Lansing's Westside
Neighborhood Historic Tour and learn about the history of over two dozen west side locations!
Mural, Mural On The Wall
The Westside Commercial Association
is looking for a new wall to place a mural
in our community. We are looking for a
Westside business that is willing and
eager to bring a positive influence into
the area. If you are interested in
partnering with us there are plenty of ways
to fund a mural. Westside Commercial
Association canwork with you on grants
and sponsorships. To create a mural on
your building, contact Jessica Yorko
at jessica@nwlansing.org or call at 517-214-5684.
Welcome to Lansing’s Westside Sign Is In
After two years of looking for a location for the Welcome
to Lansing’s Westside Sign, the sign finally went in on
December 11, 2008 at the corner of Saginaw and
Stanley. Next time you are driving east on Saginaw
Street from Lansing Township or Delta Township,
check out the sign on your left just after you drive under
the railroad overpass.
This sign was one of the community recommendations
from the visioning sessions for the Saginaw/Oakland
Corridors in 2003 and 2004. The sign is sponsored by
the Lansing Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Board
Grant program, through grants to the Westside
Neighborhood Association and the Downtown
Neighborhood Association.
The location for the sign was made possible by Mr. Nick
Limber, a long time Westside resident and Saginaw
Street property owner. The land where the sign is located also includes two commercial
buildings. One is leased to BIGGBY Coffee, at 2002 W. Saginaw. The other building formerly
housed Big Tony’s Pizza, and is now available for lease. (See details below.) These properties
were first developed in the 1920s to house Mr. Limber’s father’s laundry business. It is truly
thanks to Mr. Limber, the Lansing Planning Department, and the Mayor’s NAB grant program that
this sign has finally gone in!!
Start or Expand Your Business on Lansing’s Westside!
The Mid-Michigan Entrepreneur Institute offers classes and assistance to help you
start or expand your business. With a solid business or expansion plan in place, you
can apply for up to $10,000 in financing. MMEI loans have an 80% approval rate, and have helped
30+ local businesses. Information and registration: Denise Peek, 517-853-5890 or
lancomme@tir.com.
Click here to learn more about real estate options on Lansing's Westside.
Westside Businesses Are Growing!
staff levels. In the 2008 survey, 47% of respondents said they plan to add new positions in the
coming year, up from 31% in 2007.
Furthermore, 71% said that the Westside Alliance program had directly helped their business,
and 100% said they want to see the program continue. The full survey report is available by
contacting Jessica at jessica@nwlansing.org or 214-5684.
in 2010, including the following lane closures:
- March - November: Saginaw reduced to one-lane between Westmoreland and Chestnut
(expect lane reductions to begin further west of Westmoreland) - July - August: MLK Jr. Boulevard temporarily closed at Saginaw for approximately six to
eight weeks - All dates and phasing schedules subject to change due to weather and external
circumstances
Traffic will be detoured from Saginaw to Jenison,
Shiawassee, and Walnut. If your business is located
in this area and you have not yet completed a site
access survey, please complete the survey to ensure
access to your business. Get the survey from
jessica@nwlansing.org.
The City of Lansing and Motion Marketing & Media
(M3) can create custom maps that you can give your
customers prior to and during construction, showing
detours, phasing, and access to your business. To get your custom map, contact Julie Becker at
julie@m3group.biz or 203-3333.
M3 will also be coordinating a billboard campaign to remind drivers that Saginaw Street
businesses are open. M3 would like to work with Westside businesses to host some special
events featuring Swish the Fish, the official mascot of the CSO Control Program.
Businesses can also work with the Westside Commercial Association to advertise any
construction specials or promotions in our neighborhood newsletters, which are direct mailed to
4,500 households and reach another 2,000 electronically. We can include articles on your
specials for no charge, or you can run ads in the print publications at very reasonable rates.
Contact jessica@nwlansing.org for rates and deadlines.
Above all, please bear in mind the CSO construction is a federally and state mandated
environmental project that is aiding the removal of 1.65 billion gallons of combined sewer
overflow entering our rivers. Swish and his fishy pals thank you for supporting these efforts and
staying positive during construction.
More info at www.lansingcso.com or 394-5566.
March 3 Westside Business Breakfast
The next Westside Business Breakfast will be Wednesday, March 3, from 8am-9am at 614 N.
Seymour.
The breakfast is being hosted and sponsored by Motion Marketing Media (M3), and will have a
special focus on marketing, promotions, publicity, image-making and other ways to GET
CUSTOMERS AND KEEP THEM.
The main speaker will be Tiffany Dowling, Chief Conversation Starter and President of Motion
Marketing Media. Tiffany has 19 years of experience in Public Relations as President of M3 and
formerly as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Michigan Department of Career
Development. She was a Greater Lansing Business Monthly Entrepreneurial Award winner in
2006, and has received numerous other awards for awareness campaigns, volunteer work and
journalism. She also started Capital Area Women's Lifestyle Magazine in 2007 and Co-Hosts In
Her Shoes, a new radio show that is "getting straight to the point on platforms that matter to
women". In December 2009, the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) announced
that Motion Marketing & Media (M3) was selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the
marketing consulting services category. Read more about Tiffany and M3 at www.m3group.
biz/talent/tiffany-dowling
At this breakfast, Tiffany will be offering information and ideas for her fellow Westside business
owners about how they can get their cash registers ringing and keep people coming in.
Please take advantage of this opportunity to receive guidance from an amazing resource person
in our area!
Please RSVP by March 1 to schippel@msu.edu.
Main Street Trainings
Feb 11 and 25
If you would like to attend either of these Main Street Associate Level trainings, email
jessica@nwlansing.org no later than Friday, February 5.
The Michigan Main Street program at MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) is
hosting a "Main Street in Practice" training this month. The training is being offered on:
- February 11 at Cleary's Pub Howell located at 117 E. Grand River Ave, and
- February 25 at the Boyne City Public Library located at 201 E. Main St.
Because Lansing's Westside is part of the Associate Level Main Street group, our staff,
committee members, and other volunteers are invited to attend.
This training will focus on what the business district was like before and after the Main Street
Program, according to volunteers, business owners, staff, and board members from the
community, as well as what it means to be in the Michigan Main Street Selected Level Program,
and the pros and cons from the local community perspective.
The Westside Commercial Association has been applying many of the principles and techniques
of the Main Street program in our work to create enjoyable and prosperous business and
residential areas on Lansing's Westside, particularly in the area of committee structure and
function. Learn more at www.michiganmainstreetcenter.com/Program.aspx
Welcome New Westside Businesses!
Collins Builders
Collins Builders will have a grand opening at
1712 West Saginaw (Saginaw and Cawood)
next month. This property was also vacant
and blighted for several years before Chris
Collins purchased the property last month. He
has completed beautiful exterior and interior
renovations. His business offers windows,
siding, doors, and roofing, and is a supplier
of Universal Windows Direct.
If you are undertaking any kind of home renovation project, be sure to give Chris a call at 517-202-
0184, email him at collins-builders@hotmail.com, or stop by 1712 W. Saginaw. Welcome Chris!
Telltale Photography
Telltale Photography is run by Melissa Keeley, who also serves on the WCA Promotions
Committee. Capital Gains Online Media recently wrote about the business:
In August 2008, she moved to Lansing, decided to create her own job and launched her own
photography business, Telltale Photography, in January 2009. Keeley works from her Westside
Lansing home, but travels throughout the region to shoot weddings and portraits. "I'm lucky in
that I'm in an industry that's going to exist regardless of the economy," she says. "Everyone's
always going to want wedding photographs and it kind of fits a niche market for people who really
value a storytelling element in photography."
Check out Telltale's amazing photo blog at
www.telltalephotography.com or contact
melissa@telltalephotography.com
Jimmy's Smoke Shop
Jimmy's Smoke Shop opened at 1830 W.
Saginaw in December. This property was also
vacant for several years and is now a retail
location offering t-shirts, sweatshirts, snacks,
and as the owner, Rockie says, other "big city
urban items". Stop by and check it out, at
Saginaw and Verlinden, across from Irish Pub.
Promoting Lansing's Westside - Advertising Survey
The goal of the Westside Commercial Association Promotions Committee is to bring people to
Lansing's Westside. The committee is working to understand our potential customers and
competition, identify our assets (people, buildings, heritage, and institutions), and define our
"niche" position in the marketplace by creating new image campaigns, retail promotions, and
special events to bring people to our area.
WCA Holiday Ad 2009
The committee worked together on the two beautiful full-page holiday ads in Lansing City Pulse
in December and January.
To aid in the development of an annual promotional plan for Lansing's Westside, the Promotions
Committee has investigated cooperative and discount advertising prices for Westside
businesses from various media outlets, and created a survey based on those options, enclosed
with the hard copy of your February newsletter. Please complete the Westside Commercial
Association Cooperative Advertisement Survey by February 8 so that the Promotions Committee
can get a better idea of what kinds of district-wide advertising you are interested in. For more info,
contact WCA Promotions Committee Chair, Lisa Benck at 648-0036 or lisa.benck@gmail.com.
Westside Summer Fest is July 24
This annual celebration of community and diversity takes
place at Saginaw & Princeton in the large parking lot
behind Park Furniture. More than 8,000 people attended
in 2009.
Activities include live music, a farmers' and artisans
market, a kids' 3 v 3 basketball tournament, bicycle rodeo
and helmet giveaway, health expo and passport to
wellness, children's building, garden, art, and science activities, and more. For 2010, also expect
a slam dunk and free-throw competitions.
Sponsorship options are available from $250 up to $10,000, and provide excellent recognition of
your business or organization. To learn more about sponsoring, contact jessica@nwlansing.org.
There are vendor and display opportunities, lots of ways to be part of the event, sell your product,
promote your business, and contribute to the community.
Visit www.westsidesummerfest.com for past year's photos, vendor forms, sponsor info, and
more, or contact Nikki Schippel at schippel@msu.edu or 248-376-6061.
Holy Cross Property Update
The property that formerly housed Holy Cross Church was listed for sale in September 2009
following consolidation with St. Mary's in Downtown Lansing.
The property is 4.7 acres, with three buildings totaling 56,000 square feet and 200 parking
spaces. The property was appraised for $2.3 million in the summer of 2009, and the list price is
$1.8 million.
For more information or to view the property, visit www.holycrosssale.com or contact Mitch Crank
of Looking Glass Century 21 Realty at 517-290-6885 or mcrank@century21.com.
Saginaw Street Corridor Improvement Authority Act and Road Diet Update
The Saginaw Street CIAA was created by the Lansing City Council on November 2, 2009. The
next step in the process is to appoint members to the board of the Saginaw Street CIAA, which is
done by the Mayor. The group will then work with the Lansing Economic Development
Corporation, Lansing Public Service Department, and Westside Commercial Association to
create improvement/beautification plan for Saginaw Street. According to the Corridor
Improvement Act of 2005, the board shall have nine (9) members, one (1) of whom is the Mayor
(or a representative of), one (1) of whom is a resident within a half mile of the corridor, one (1) of
whom is a property owner, one (1) of whom is a business owner. The remaining five (5)
appointees will have some affiliation with Saginaw Street revitalization efforts.
In September 2008 the Lansing Master Plan Team completed a study to weight the impacts of
converting Saginaw and Oakland to two-way streets or and/or reducing one or more traffic lanes.
That studied found that a two-way conversion would likely result in a level of traffic congestion
unacceptable to the Michigan Department of Transportation, which has authority over these
roads. While a two-way conversion would greatly increase access to local businesses, it might
also create traffic diversions and problems for the region's overall transportation system. The
consultants recommended that one traffic lane be removed on Saginaw Street, and that the extra
lane be used for a bicycle lane and/or landscaping - street trees and other greenery.
In 2009, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission completed a required study showing
removing a lane from Saginaw Street would not adversely impact our regional air quality.
The next step in reconfiguring Saginaw Street is MDOT approval of the project and determination
of funding for the restriping and other improvements.
Managing the Capital Campaign - March 3-5
For all of the WCA non-profit members...
The Fund Raising School will be offering its course Managing the Capital Campaign March 3-5 at
the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center (55 Harrison Road, East Lansing MI).
As a class that counts for 2.0 CEU's toward earning a Certificate in Fund Raising Management,
attendees will learn how to determine an organization's readiness to run a capital campaign;
plan a campaign from start to finish; enlist and motivate the right volunteer leadership; conduct
prospect research; integrate capital fund raising in an overall development plan;and learn current
trends in fund raising.
The fee for this course is $800, reduced from its regular $1,125. Besides class time, it includes
a comprehensive study guide; best practices and advice on capital campaigns; a checklist for
gauging readiness; marketing tools to assess campaign feasibility; and exercises in goal setting
and working with volunteers.
Classes run from 8:00am until 5:00pm, and are limited to 40 people. To register visit www.
penceconsulting.com or contact Carole Pence at 906-228-2972.
Anti-Racism Workshop:
February 19-22 and March 19-22
For anyone wishing to learn more about themselves and unlearning racism...
Offered by the Leaven Center located in Lyons, Michigan. Doing Our Own Work: A Seminar for
Anti-racist White People is an intensive seminar for white people who seek to deepen their
commitment to confronting and challenging racism and white privilege. Doing Our Own Work is
designed as a supplement to, not a substitute for, contexts where people of diverse races
discuss and strategize together how racism can be challenged.
The seminar consists of two extended weekends, providing more than 45 hours of "class time."
Each participant is invited to identify a "sphere of influence" in her/his life that will serve as the
focus of action and reflection. Utilizing input from the leaders, assigned readings, videos, group
discussion, and structured exercises, participants explore several topics and issues.
More details at www.leaven.org/upcoming.htm#doow or contact The Leaven Center at 989-855-
2606. The cost is $690 ($100 deposit and $590 balance due). The balance may be paid in
installments extending beyond the close of the seminar. The cost includes program, materials,
lodging, and meals. Partial scholarships are available.
Lansing's Westside Facebook Page
Lansing's Westside Facebook Fan Page is now up to 414 members who receive our updates
and news feeds about Westside businesses, events and projects.
Join today at: www.facebook.com/pages/Lansings-Westside/110434036042?ref=ts
And check out our photo galleries, recent posts, related pages and fellow members.
Promoting the Westside Commercial Association
This month the WCA is bringing flyers and posters to Westside business regarding involvement
in revitalizing our area. This Get Involved! Campaign is targeting Westside business owners,
managers, employees, customers, residents and other stakeholders. While we have formed two
of our Main Street Committees, they need additional members in order to take on projects.
The Organization Committee meets on 2nd Wednesdays from 5pm-6pm, and the Promotions
Committee will be meeting 1st Thursdays from 12pm-1pm. Anyone can become a dues-paying
member— see membership rates to the left. If you or someone you know is a candidate for
serving on a committee, please contact Jessica at jessica@nwlansing.org or 517-214-5684.
Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan
The Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan (EIMM) is a non-profit organization whose mission is
to create opportunities for entrepreneurs by offering business plan development and financial
trainings, access to capital and networking opportunities.
March 2010
Foundations of Business Planning
Dates and Locations To Be Determined, $275 - $375 (based on sliding scale)
This Practical Hands On 15 week Business Plan Development training program is designed to
guide entrepreneurs through the process of developing & writing a business plan. All elements
of a business plan will be covered as well as access to the resources necessary to manage a
successful business enterprise. The program will offer networking opportunities with business
owners in the community.
To receive updates from EIMM, fill out the online form at www.eim-m.org or contact Denise
Peek at 853-5890 or lancomme@tir.net.
Fall Clean Sweep Success
On Saturday, September 19, more than 40 volunteers joined
together to beautify Saginaw Street from Stanley to Verlinden.
Volunteers came from Dicker N Deal Cash Centre, United
Way, Comerica Bank, MSU, Lansing Catholic, Everett High
School, Westside, Old Oakland, and Genesee
Neighborhoods, and General Motors Retirees. Supplies,
refreshments, and waste removal services were provided by
Dicker N Deal Cash Centre, Capital Area United Way,
BIGGBY Coffee, and City of Lansing Office of Waste
Reduction.
The results of the event include: 280 tulip bulbs planted
(look for these in spring), 50 chrysanthemums planted, 2 full
blocks of sidewalks and parking lots edged and weeded,
and more than 50 yard waste bags filled.
Curious about the history of your neighborhood? Click here for a PDF of the Lansing's Westside
Neighborhood Historic Tour and learn about the history of over two dozen west side locations!
Mural, Mural On The Wall
The Westside Commercial Association
is looking for a new wall to place a mural
in our community. We are looking for a
Westside business that is willing and
eager to bring a positive influence into
the area. If you are interested in
partnering with us there are plenty of ways
to fund a mural. Westside Commercial
Association canwork with you on grants
and sponsorships. To create a mural on
your building, contact Jessica Yorko
at jessica@nwlansing.org or call at 517-214-5684.
Welcome to Lansing’s Westside Sign Is In
After two years of looking for a location for the Welcome
to Lansing’s Westside Sign, the sign finally went in on
December 11, 2008 at the corner of Saginaw and
Stanley. Next time you are driving east on Saginaw
Street from Lansing Township or Delta Township,
check out the sign on your left just after you drive under
the railroad overpass.
This sign was one of the community recommendations
from the visioning sessions for the Saginaw/Oakland
Corridors in 2003 and 2004. The sign is sponsored by
the Lansing Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Board
Grant program, through grants to the Westside
Neighborhood Association and the Downtown
Neighborhood Association.
The location for the sign was made possible by Mr. Nick
Limber, a long time Westside resident and Saginaw
Street property owner. The land where the sign is located also includes two commercial
buildings. One is leased to BIGGBY Coffee, at 2002 W. Saginaw. The other building formerly
housed Big Tony’s Pizza, and is now available for lease. (See details below.) These properties
were first developed in the 1920s to house Mr. Limber’s father’s laundry business. It is truly
thanks to Mr. Limber, the Lansing Planning Department, and the Mayor’s NAB grant program that
this sign has finally gone in!!
Start or Expand Your Business on Lansing’s Westside!
The Mid-Michigan Entrepreneur Institute offers classes and assistance to help you
start or expand your business. With a solid business or expansion plan in place, you
can apply for up to $10,000 in financing. MMEI loans have an 80% approval rate, and have helped
30+ local businesses. Information and registration: Denise Peek, 517-853-5890 or
lancomme@tir.com.
Click here to learn more about real estate options on Lansing's Westside.
Westside Businesses Are Growing!
- In 2007 and 2008, the
Westside Business survey
asked about the change in
number of employees over the
past year. Responses show
that businesses on Lansing’s
Westside are growing! From
2006-2007, Westside
businesses surveyed reported
a net gain of 24 jobs, and from
2007-2008, a net gain of 31
jobs. A total of 55 positions
have been added by Westside
businesses over the past two
years. Most businesses who
responded to the survey
employ fewer than 20
staff levels. In the 2008 survey, 47% of respondents said they plan to add new positions in the
coming year, up from 31% in 2007.
Furthermore, 71% said that the Westside Alliance program had directly helped their business,
and 100% said they want to see the program continue. The full survey report is available by
contacting Jessica at jessica@nwlansing.org or 214-5684.
| NorthWest Initiative - 1012 North Walnut, Lansing, MI 48906 - Phone: 517-999-2894 - Fax: 517-999-2897 |
3rd Annual Westside Summer Fest: Saturday, July 25, 2009 Click here to learn about the event, including photos and activities from the July 26, 2008 Festival! |
| Westside Commercial Association Mission: To create enjoyable and prosperous business and residential areas on Lansing’s Westside. |
