LANSING - With 279 student participants in this year’s Lansing Youth Startup Expo, participation has increased by 700% since the second year.

“This is the 4th year and it’s an event to showcase the talent and creativity and business minds of our young professionals,” LEAP Director of New Economy Division Tony Willis said.

Willis said this event began for the better of the city’s economy.

“We’re really trying to build a culture of entrepreneurship in our region,” Willis said. “We felt something that was lagging was the entrepreneurial drive and we want to change that.”

The students not only gain entrepreneurial experience but, life-long qualities as well.

“Critical thinking is probably first and foremost,” Willis said. “The confidence they receive is one of the biggest takeaways for the students.”

The affects of the startup expo are long-term in terms of the economy.

“If we have this type of populous thinking about entrepreneurship in a critical way and exposed to it at such an early age, they will be more ready in the future,” Willis said.

The event is open to 6-12 graders who attended schools within the Tri-County area of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.