Published: Mar. 18, 2023
By: Chloe Miller | cmiller@mlive.com
JACKSON, MI – Lean Rocket Lab began its journey in Jackson in 2018 with a goal of creating an entrepreneurial hub for manufacturers. The hub at 133 W. Michigan Ave., was specifically focused on businesses developing technology products in central Michigan. But when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, Lean Rocket Lab saw a huge need to help local entrepreneurs start up or expand their businesses. “People in our community were coming to our front door saying ‘Hey, I’m trying to open up a restaurant or a bakery, or boutique or whatever,’ and so we just really wanted to respond to that,” Co-Founder Brandon Marken said. Thus, the LOCAL program was born. It started with a conversation between Lean Rocket Lab Co-Founders Marken and Ken Seneff and American 1 Credit Union to create a $5-million, five-year partnership fund to help businesses with capital funding.