Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Multiple downtown small-business owners tell Lansing council Downtown Lansing Inc. failed to deliver promised support
Summary
Six entrepreneurs and former owners told council they faced broken promises, lack of basic resources and landlord problems while participating in Downtown Lansing Inc.'s Middle Village/Bridal Village programs; speakers asked council for oversight and stronger enforcement of landlords and DLI accountability.
Several current and former downtown small-business owners addressed the Lansing City Council during public comment on Jan. 13, 2025, alleging repeated failures by Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) and property owners to deliver on promised relocation and small-business supports.
Ashley Rogers, owner of Sedona Wanderlust Boutique, said the Middle Village program failed to provide basic supports such as Wi-Fi and adequate retail visibility and that participating businesses were "tokenized." Rogers said the program left operators "to fend for ourselves" and that promised SBDC coaching and other supports did not materialize.
"On paper, it seems that this program is supposed to uplift and empower small businesses...unfortunately, we were denied any of that type of representation," Ashley Rogers said.
Fawn…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
