The Michigan Gateway Community Foundation in Buchanan has announced nearly $100,000 in grants to non-profits around Southwest Michigan.
As part of the foundation’s second grant cycle of the year, ten organizations were chosen to receive funding. Gateway Foundation President Michael Rowland says this is part of the group’s mission and he’s happy to help non-profit prosper.
“We see this as kind of a chicken or egg scenario,” Rowland said. “A big focus for our board of trustees was to try to make sure that we were being equitable across the region we serve.”
A total of $98,326 was awarded to entities throughout southern Berrien County and Cass County. Among one of the recipients is the city of Buchanan, which is getting $25,000 for the construction of a handicapped-accessible boat ramp on the Saint Joseph River.
“Being able to not only hit that culture bucket by providing recreational activities, but also hitting that healthcare bucket and saying, ‘OK, well, how do we get people with special needs, people with handicaps, to be able to access water sports?’ So, that was a really cool opportunity for us.”
The Foundation has two grant cycles each year, one in August and another in February.
Below is a full list of this cycle’s grant recipients:
$25,000 from the Unity Fund to the City of Buchanan for the construction of a handicap accessible boat ramp on the Saint Joseph River.
$25,000 from the Walter Schirmer Jr. Fund to be used for the Northstar Revitalization Plan to help with improved housing in the northside neighborhood of Buchanan.
$8,000 from the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth in support of the Positive Parenting Program. This is provided by the Berrien County Health Department and supports families in the City of Niles.
$3,221.38 from the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth to the Niles District Library for the purchase of a Playaway system for audio book access for their patrons.
$5,000 capacity building grant awarded to Berrien County Cancer Services to build a new website and landing pages to assist cancer patients access their services.
$3,000 from the George W. Romney Fund to Junior Achievement of Berrien & Cass County in support of Junior Achievement programming at Sam Adams Elementary School in Cassopolis.
$7,660 from Buchanan Education Fund and the Buchanan Area Fund awarded to Buchanan Community Schools for executive leadership coaching.
$2,235 from General Funds awarded to Cassopolis Band Boosters for the purchase of 4 bass drums.
$9,210 capacity building grant from the Walter Schirmer Jr. Fund awarded to the Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan to support consulting work aimed at building a strategic plan, future staffing models and board training.
$10,000 from the George & LaVonne Sullivan Endowment, Niles Area Fund, Cass Community Fund and Michigan Gateway Community Foundation General Fund to support the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber in their efforts to address population decline, job creation and the creation of marketing materials, landing pages and community tours to promote the region of South Berrien and Cass Counties.
