Program Overview:

The Empower Program is an initiative developed by the Lansing Economic Development Corporation under the Lansing Equitable Economic Development Initiative. This program supports and empowers BIPOC small businesses in the Lansing Community with deepening their operations and scaling their impact. Over 6 months participants will work with a team of dedicated Project Manager and Technical Assistants to execute an individualized business development plan.  

Eligibility:

• Must operate a for profit, small business                                                        
  • Small businesses are defined as firms with a size of 50 employees or less and total gross revenue per year of $1.5M or less 
• Business must have been in operation for at least 12 calendar months
• Business is headquartered in Lansing, Mi corporate boundaries. You can verify your address utilizing https://www.lansingmi.gov/521/Where-Do-I-Live-in-Lansing. Only addresses within the shaded color areas are City of Lansing addresses.

51% of the business is owned by a person that defines as BIPOC as defined below:

• African American: African-American or Black, person having origins in any Black racial groups in Africa. 
• Hispanic: Persons of Spanish speaking culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America or the Caribbean Islands regardless of race
• Asian: Persons having origins in any of the original people of East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent or the Pacific Islands
• Native American: Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, persons descendant of the aboriginal people of any island or territory in the Pacific

All potential businesses must complete the application process

Program Dates:

• 9/17/2025 – Orientation  
• 10/1/2025 – Get Legal  
• 10/15/2025 – Get Branded + Photoshoots  
• 10/29/2025 – Get Operational  
• 11/12/2025 – Systems  
• 12/3/2025 – Get Profitable  
• 12/17/2025 – Insurance & Risk  
• 1/7/2026 – Get Scaleable  
• 2/4/2026 – Graduation