East Lansing Working on Artist Co-Op

The City of East Lasing is putting together an Artist Co-Op in a vacant business at 325 Grove St. next to Woven Art Yarn & Fiber Gallery. The Artist Co-Op is being funded by the City’s new Entrepreneurship Program.

According to excerpts from the article:

The city’s Department of Planning and Community Development presented the proposal to the East Lansing City Council during Tuesday’s work session at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.

If passed, the Artist Co-Op would lease the store and sublease it to low- and moderate-income artists or entrepreneurs in the city.

This project would enhance the arts and culture in the community, senior project manager Lori Mullins said.

“We believe that supporting arts and culture is good for the economic development of the entire downtown,” she said.

The Artist Co-Op, which would be located adjacent to Woven Art, would have space for about six different artist studios, Mullins said.

Those who financially qualify for the Artist Co-Op would receive financial assistance. Businesses with five or fewer employees would be eligible to receive a maximum of $6,000 in grants and loans, and other small businesses seeking expansion could receive up to $15,000 in total funding.

Read the entire article here.