Michigan State University (MSU), the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (Leap, Inc.) and the Prima Civitas Foundation are working with 53 businesses to improve the quality of life and economic development in the Capital region.
The new MSU Community Builders group works to connect students and area businesses to increase the likelihood that students will stick around after graduation.
MSU chose the companies based on their involvement with the university community as well as how consistently they’ve been involved with the community. For example, Dean Transportation is an MSU Community Builder. Each year, Dean Transportation helps 15,000 MSU students perform volunteer work at more than 350 capital region non-profit organizations.
Neogen, another Community Builder, works with MSU to create food safety innovations. TechSmith Corporation works with MSU faculty and students to create education and research opportunities.
New MSU Community Builder members will be announced about every six months. Apparently there’s enough potential members to keep adding members for the next three years.
“MSU Community Builders is not all about the dedication of money, it’s also about making opportunities to have interns in your business,” says Kellie Dean with Dean Transportation.
In conjunction with the program, Community Builders banners will line Michigan Avenue from Lansing through East Lansing.
Source: Patty Mallet, LEAP
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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