If ever you wanted to start a business, do it now, when you can get the kind of support that would ordinarily cost beaucoups bucks.
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) has collected a cadre of specialists to smooth the way for early-
stage companies that have the potential to bring innovation—and job opportunities—to the Capital Region. The new program is called SpringBoard.
“It’s a win for everyone,” says LEAP President and CEO Denyse Ferguson. “The SpringBoard gives our region’s most promising young companies the help they need to get off to a strong start and create jobs in our region. It also gives our eight partner companies new clients who can strengthen and diversify their existing businesses.”
The partner companies are Andrews, Hooper & Pavlik P.L.C. (certified public accountants); CiesaDesign (graphic communications); Edge Partnerships (marketing and public relations);Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, P.C. (attorneys-at-law); the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (counseling, training and research); North Coast Technology Investors (strategic guidance and evaluation); Thomas M. Cooley Law School (legal education) and Worksighted, Inc. (IT support).
The program was unveiled Feb. 5, although is has been working with early-stage companies in the Capital region for at least six months. One beneficiary is EnerFusion, Inc. that makes mobile power vending stations for public places to enable people to recharge small portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptop computers and PDAs. One such station, called a power doc, can be viewed at Lansing’s Capital Regional International Airport.
“It’s been a great experience for us to work with LEAP,” says EnerFusion President Joe Kobus. “LEAP has connected us to the right resources at the right times to get us help with our business plan and help with our marketing strategy. They’ve really worked with us to get our name out there and bring attention to what we’re doing.”
Source: Patty Mallett, LEAP
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
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