The Lansing Regional Chamber Economic Club is a group of local businesses who regularly meet for professional development and economic forums.

“We want to have the business community in this area be a positive force for students while they are at the university,” Simon said.

Simon also spoke about the funding challenges facing the university and the importance of MSU’s research initiatives to Lansing businesses.

Weller, now employed by Jackson National Life Insurance Company, said the opportunity to hear from the president was important to her as an alumna.

“We were excited to hear (President Simon) speak,” she said. “(Our business) also (has) a really good relationship with Michigan State.”

As the student-business relationship grows, young people are more likely to stay in the state after graduation, Simon said.

“It’s easy to get folks to come back to Michigan,” she said. “We have to create the environment that makes them want to.”

Lansing Regional Chamber president and CEO Tim Daman said MSU is one of the region’s biggest “businesses,” and it’s important for business leaders to know the state of the university.

“From an economic development standpoint, (MSU is) a significant driver of economic development,” he said.

Simon also said new and unusual research initiatives are necessary to keep Michigan ahead on the “innovation curve.”

The research that takes place at MSU has the potential to spur economic growth and business development, Daman said.

“The different research hubs throughout North America and the United States behind that is a research university, and we have one right here in our backyard,” he said.

Dru Mitchell, a business service manager at the Lansing Economic Area Partnership Inc., or LEAP, said local businesses must follow MSU’s progress to form and maintain a relationship with the university.

“It is important to know which direction the university is going,” she said. “I wanted to get an update on Dr. Simon’s vision.”

Staff writer Brittany Shammas contributed to this report.