Seven Regional Organizations to be Honored at Lansing Chamber's Celebration of Regional Growth
Seven organizations that plan or have made major investments in the regional economy will be recognized for their contributions at the fourth annual Celebration of Regional Growth Luncheon sponsored by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC). More than 400 people are expected to attend the event being held as follows:
Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Eagle Eye Banquet Center
15500 Chandler Road
Bath Township
The seven organizations being honored at the celebration include:
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) – The FRIB project at Michigan State University will result in an estimated $1 billion in new economic activity in the region and 400 new jobs to Michigan. FRIB will put MSU and the region on the world map as a research leader in medicine, materials science, physics and national security;
General Motors – Building on their heritage of over 100 years as the manufacturing foundation of the regional economy, GM will welcome three new vehicles to their Lansing facilities by 2011: Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Cadillac CTS Coupe and Chevrolet Traverse. GM's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Lansing set the standard for high-tech manufacturing, and demonstrate GM's commitment to its long-term presence in the region;
Granger – In 2009, Granger added five landfill gas utilization projects where trash is recycled into green power. Granger's Wood Road and Grand River generating stations are producing enough electricity to power 14,000 average-sized homes in the service area of the Lansing Board of Water and Light;
Greenstone Farm Credit Services – Headquartered in East Lansing, Greenstone is the country's fifth largest association in the Farm Credit System. Greenstone recently broke ground on a 78,000-square-foot headquarters on West Road that will double the company's current space. Greenstone plans to hire approximately 65 new employees in the next four years.
Jackson National Life – One of America's largest life insurance companies and a leading financial services organization, Jackson continues to expand is national headquarters located in Alaeidon Township. Jackson created 175 new jobs when it moved its customer service center from Denver to south Lansing. Jackson also plans to expand the south Lansing campus, which could house an additional 600 workers.
Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) – Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2010, the BWL has long been recognized as one of the leading municipally owned utilities in the country. BWL has become a leader in programs to deliver cleaner energy and energy efficiency. The landfill-to-gas project in partnership with Granger is powering thousands of Lansing area homes, and BWL's solar array near downtown Lansing is providing energy to 50 area homes.
Technology Innovation Center (TIC) – Located in the heart of downtown East Lansing, TIC facilitates the development of a technology-based economy in the mid-Michigan region and bolster's the area's professional workforce. TIC is helping identify and support high technology business opportunities, and promote long-term sustainable economic development in East Lansing and the region.
A Celebration of Regional Growth is sponsored by Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis and Gotting, P.C.. Tickets are $425 (table of 8). Individual tickets are $60 for members. To register, contact Sarah Smith at events@lansingchamber.org or call 517-853-6457.
