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Downtown Lansing Inc. projects $825,000 revenue and expense increase; readies sidewalk input for CSO reconstruction
Summary
Downtown Lansing Inc. told council its operating income and expenses will each rise by about $825,000, driven by state-allocated funding and higher insurance and maintenance contract costs; the organization said it is coordinating with the planned CSO street reconstruction for accessible sidewalks and is expanding merchant training access.
Kathleen Agerly, executive director of Downtown Lansing Inc., told the Committee of the Whole on May 5 that DLI's proposed budget shows an increase in both income and expenses of about $825,000, driven by state-allocated funding and higher insurance and maintenance-contract costs.
Agerly said, “The financial differences largely include state allocated funding, as well as increases in insurance and maintenance contract costs resulting in our income and expenses both increasing by 825,000.” She said DLI will use the funds to support ongoing maintenance and programming and that assessment revenue covers maintenance contracts and staff salaries while the organization fills the remainder through sponsorships, grants and program revenue.
Why it matters: DLI is coordinating with the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) street reconstruction planned for the 200–300 blocks of South Washington Square in 2026 and is advocating for accessible, cohesive sidewalk designs based on merchant feedback and a LEO channel investment pilot grant. The organization also said it is making monthly merchant learning sessions available in both virtual and in-person formats and recording them.
Vendors and procurement: DLI said Lake State Landscaping and Snow Removal is its maintenance contractor (last bid 2024) and SmithGroup was engaged in 2023 for sidewalk-design assistance tied to CSO work.
Ending: No formal funding decisions were taken; DLI answered council questions and noted no elimination or consolidation of positions in its budget.
