Midland Area Community Foundation Grants Over $167,000 in the Second Quarter of 2023
June 29th, 2023The Midland Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently approved six grants, including two Midland Area Youth Action Council grants.
The Community Foundation’s second-quarter grants range from $3,000 to $40,000, each focusing on one of four significant areas of community improvement: (1) building our livelihood, (2) developing our talent, (3) caring for our people, and (4) enriching our community. Successful grant applications articulated which of these areas would be benefited through the acquisition of funding, using various measures and indicators to illustrate success.
Sharon Mortensen, the President & CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation, stated, “Contributions to our Community Investment Fund enable us to engage in grantmaking that facilitates long-term transformation. We’re thankful for our donors who allow us to increase the scale of our impact.”
Second-quarter grants for 2023 include:
- West Midland Family Center – $40,000
West Midland Family Center is seeking funds to build an Early Childhood Playground at Bullock Creek Elementary School (BCEL). This playground will be designed for children under the age of 5. There is no playground yet available to them. This playground will be accessible by students enrolled in West Midland Family Center’s preschool located at BCEL, as well as BCEL kindergarten classes, the Midland County Educational Service Agency Early Developmental Delay Program, and community members outside of school hours.
“Providing safe and fun opportunities for young learners to grow has an incredible impact on their lives, and on the future success and well-being of the community. This playground will positively impact the Midland community for years to come, helping children to develop to their full potential.” – West Midland Family Center
- Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) – $40,000
This project provides initial seed funding, tailored support, and infrastructure for 10 SVSU student entrepreneurs, four of which are from Midland County, to help them launch their businesses. The project addresses the need for a one-stop entity that provides all the necessary resources for early-stage startups, including identifying a business problem, developing a prototype solution, identifying angel clients, and preparing the necessary resources to launch student-led small businesses.
“Thanks to the $40,000 grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation, we will provide seed funding, tailored support, and infrastructure to help four SVSU student entrepreneurs launch their businesses in Midland County. This support enables our student entrepreneurs to navigate Michigan’s diverse business environment, foster innovation, and shape a brighter future for all.” – SVSU
- Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Saginaw – $40,000
This grant request is to support YMCA’s Camp Timbers near Piper Lake. This grant will assist in enhancing Camp Timbers through renovations. Approximately 25% of the youth, teens, and families served in summer camps and band camps at Camp Timbers are from Midland County. The family camp enrollments have been as high as 75% by Midland families. For the summer of 2022, enrollment was a record high in its 55-year history.
- Arnold Center, Inc. – $40,000
Arnold Farms has grown to the point of needing increased circulation to function properly and maintain the hydroponic room environment. Currently, their HVAC system cannot handle the increased humidity produced by the plants and system, resulting in moisture on walls, affecting manufacturing operations. The project will purchase and install two (2) DryGair DGX Units (dehumidifiers) and necessary electrical work to support the equipment.
- First Robotics Competition Team 2619 – $4,200 (Youth Action Council Grant)
First Robotics Competition Team 2619 hosts a full-sized high school robotics practice field for the region. The field was relocated from the Carpenter Robotics Center to Jefferson Middle School in December 2022. Previously, visiting teams borrowed tools at Carpenter while practicing. The new location at Jefferson has no tools, work surfaces, or essential safety equipment. This proposal provides shared tools and materials on-site to make the field use more practical for teams in the Midland Area.
- Camp Neyati – $3,000 (Youth Action Council Grant)
Camp Neyati has some worn safety equipment at the waterfront that has to be replaced for campers, and a goose deterrent light needs to be mounted on docks for cleanliness. Neyati would also like to add 5 Corcl polyethylene boats (round boats holding up to 220 lbs).
Competitive grants are offered quarterly. Grants are open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies, nonprofit educational organizations (schools, colleges, etc.), and government entities in Midland County. To inquire about donating, establishing a fund, or applying for a grant, contact the Community Foundation at (989) 839-9661 or info@midlandfoundation.org.
