‘LANSING BUILT TO LAST’ STARTUP COMPETITION

Announces Airspace (517) as first place winner, awards free office space and services. Community engagement organization was chosen among six finalists, plans to expand its event and festival planning services across Lansing’s corridors.

Courtesy of Tech Smith

Lansing Built to Last, a local startup competition, today announced Ourspace (517) as its 2023 First Place winner. The community engagement organization will receive one year of free rent in the Greater Lansing area and a suite of wrap-around services from experts across the region who will support the new business during its first year of growth.

This First Place prize includes:

● Free rent in the Greater Lansing area and a renovation budget

● Free legal counsel, IT support, financial services, insurance and other business services

● Free branding and website consultation services

Ourspace (517) organizes events and festivals in Lansing’s corridors, including the 517 Juneteenth Weekend in Lansing's REO Town. The organization oversees events and grassroots programs that aim to activate Lansing’s corridors. Ourspace (517) also hosts the 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend, the 'OURmarket' Farmers Market Series, the 517 Health & Wellness Weekend, and the 517 Financial Wellness Weekend.

“This award will be a game-changer for our organization,” said Mikeyy Austin, founder and director of Ourspace (517). “Our team believes that we show up bigger when we show up together. These services will help us continue to build, attract, and retain community development here in Lansing.”

Among six finalists, Lansing Built to Last also announced Knowing Your Home, an educational series offering home maintenance classes for women and new homeowners, as First Runner Up. Knowing Your Home will receive one year of retail support in Middle Village Micro Market in Downtown Lansing.

Lansing Built to Last is a startup competition that invites all entrepreneurs and idea-makers to submit disaster-resistant business proposals for the opportunity to win one year’s worth of services to help launch their business. The program is in its third year of operation and is led by a coalition of Lansing- area sponsor organizations.

“We are honored to support Ourspace (517) as this organization continues to spread its wings,” said Michelle Massey, the Founder of Lansing Built to Last and Vice President of Community Outreach andCustomer Support at TechSmith. “Ourspace (517) truly exemplifies the reason I started Lansing Built to Last: to bring people together and promote positive community development.”

More information about Lansing Built to Last, including full application requirements, past winners and partner organizations, is available at lansingbuilttolast.com.

To view the finale, please go to www.wlns.com