The Fund Your Acceleration program, offered by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and the Lansing Regional SmartZone, provides non-dilutive funding to help your business grow. These funds are designed to guide businesses toward the right resources at the right time. 

Non-dilutive funding refers to financial support that does not require a company to give up equity or ownership stakes in return for the funds nor does it require repayment and/or interest to be paid to LEAP. This type of funding is beneficial for businesses because it allows them to receive money for growth, research, or operations without sacrificing any control, ownership in the company, or long-term debt.  

The difference between direct and indirect grants lies in how the funds are allocated and used: 

• Direct Grants provide funding directly to the business for purchasing equipment, software, or other critical growth-related needs. The funds are given on a reimbursement basis, meaning the business must first make the purchases and then submit receipts to receive reimbursement. An example is if your business needs a piece of equipment, you buy it first, then receive the grant money after showing proof of the purchase. 

• Indirect Grants cover the cost of specialized services needed for business growth, such as market research, legal support, technology consulting, or product testing. The funds are paid directly to the service providers rather than the business. An example is if you need legal support for intellectual property protection, the grant pays the legal service provider directly on your behalf. 

The difference between a hardship grant and a growth grant is based on the purpose and criteria for providing the funds: 

• Growth Grants are specifically aimed at helping businesses expand and achieve measurable growth, such as increasing revenue, scaling operations, or hiring new employees. Funds must be used as investments that directly contribute to business expansion, such as purchasing new equipment, developing products, marketing efforts, or conducting market research. 

• Hardship grants are for financial relief in difficult times, whereas growth grants are for strategic investments aimed at business development and economic impact. 

You need to write a 5-page business executive summary to clearly communicate your business vision and strategy. It demonstrates your readiness and commitment to using the grant effectively. The document helps justify how the funds will be used for measurable business growth. It also simplifies the evaluation process for the grant committee by providing essential details in one place. Overall, it increases your chances of securing funding by showing your business’s potential. 

As a reminder the funds do not go to your business – they only go to either service providers or goods/equipment for your business as a reimbursement. Uses include but are not limited to:  

• Specialized Services: Market research, financial modeling, legal support for business setup or intellectual property, technology validation, engineering services, and regulatory consulting. 

• Business Development: Logo design, strategic marketing plans, or hiring consultants for product testing or technology assessments. 

• Equipment and Supplies: Purchasing equipment valued under $4,999, software tools, prototype production, raw materials, and trade show fees. 

The funds cannot be used for rent, wages, general company expenses, construction costs, or operating capital. 

The answer is $0.00 – as a reminder the funds do not go to your business – they only go to either service providers or goods/equipment for your business as a reimbursement.  

• For Non-Tech businesses the typical check size is $5,000 with a lifetime max of $10,000. 

• For Tech businesses the typical check size is $10,000 with a lifetime max of $50,000. 

A Wishlist is a detailed list of the items or services your business wants to purchase with the grant funds. It includes the type of equipment, software, or support services you need, along with their estimated costs and where you plan to buy them. For example, a restaurant might list a specific stand mixer model, its cost, and the supplier, as well as marketing services needed and their pricing. Without formal quotes and a Wishlist helps ensure that your funding requests are specific and well thought out, speeding up the grant review and approval process. 

Early-stage businesses (0-20 employees) based in Clinton, Eaton, or Ingham Counties.