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Letter — Lori Fischer, Burgess Institute (Michigan State University), on House Bill 5031 (February 3, 2026)

Summary

This is a letter dated February 3, 2026, to the Michigan House Economic Competitiveness Committee in strong support of House Bill 5031, written on behalf of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Michigan State University. The letter says the Burgess Institute helps MSU student entrepreneurs turn ideas into business ventures and that its partnership with the Lansing Regional SmartZone extends this support beyond the university. It says the bill would help the programs continue without interruption by allowing existing SmartZones to extend their tax increment financing authority. The letter closes with the name Lori Fischer, Director of Outreach and Engagement.

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Cite this document

“Letter — Lori Fischer, Burgess Institute (Michigan State University), on House Bill 5031 (February 3, 2026).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2026-02-19-testimony-hb-5031-lori-fischer-msu-burgess-institute-62956-dd83c98255/, SHA-256 2037c9af0c2c417347b2e4e228ef0a7fc08f0993fb8f83ed4f5b04ed35641e24.

Full text

                             February 3, 2026



                             Michigan House Economic Competitiveness Committee
                             Anderson House Office Building
                             Lansing, MI 48933

                             Dear Members of the Michigan House Economic Competitiveness Committee,

                             I am writing to express strong support for House Bill 5031 on behalf of the Burgess Institute
                             for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Michigan State University.
                             The Burgess Institute is dedicated to helping MSU student entrepreneurs turn ideas into
                             meaningful business ventures. We work closely with student founders to provide education,
                             mentorship, and access to resources that help them move from concept to launch and
                             beyond.

                             Our partnership with the Lansing Regional SmartZone plays a critical role in extending this
                             support beyond the university. Through additional programming, access to incubator space,
                             and connections to regional partners, the SmartZone helps student entrepreneurs engage
                             with the broader innovation ecosystem, build stronger companies, and gain the exposure
                             and experience needed to compete at a national and global level.

                             We regularly see the impact of this coordinated approach as student led ventures gain
Burgess Institute for        recognition, secure funding, and successfully enter competitive markets, reflecting the value
                             of a regional network that brings together university programs, community partners, and
Entrepreneurship &
                             economic development organizations to support entrepreneurship in Michigan.
         Innovation
                             House Bill 5031 would help ensure that the programs and partnerships supporting student
                             founders and early stage companies can continue without interruption by allowing existing
                             SmartZones to extend their tax increment financing authority. This continuity is essential to
               MSU Union     maintaining a clear pathway from classroom learning to company formation and long-term
           49 Abbot Road,
                 Suite 200
                             success.
   East Lansing, MI 48824
                             For these reasons, I respectfully urge your support for House Bill 5031 and for the continued
                             investment in the systems that help student entrepreneurs and emerging companies grow,
             517-353-2496
             eship.msu.edu
                             scale, and contribute to Michigan’s future.

                             Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to entrepreneurship
                             and innovation across our state.

                             Sincerely,



                             Lori Fischer
                             Director of Outreach and Engagement
                             Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
                             Michigan State University

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