The Rev. Dr. Yvette Griffin's congregation, Pilgrim Baptist Church in Detroit, will be able to invest in improvements to "Food for the Soul", her community outreach program, as a result of the Michigan Community Center Grant.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awarded $64 million in Community Center Grant funds for 100 Michigan municipalities and organizations to expand programming or work on capital projects to serve 1.6 million Michiganders. There were nearly 1,000 applications requesting over $1 billion in funding. As part of this, Michigan IPL was awarded $998,638 to support 6 Congregation Community Centers in Detroit that provide critical community resources and essential services to communities that are typically underserved.
“Community centers anchor thriving communities across Michigan, offering Michiganders places to gather, connect, learn, and access resources,” said Gov. Whitmer. (view the LEO publication here)
Steve Wasko, the Program Director of St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center shares how conservation efforts of the parish have lowered their water bill. St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center provides after school STEAM programs for all ages, senior services, childcare programs, free meals, tax services, a clothing closet, and a Stormwater Specialist Training.
The goals for the Michigan Community Center Grant as communicated by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, are broad, but focus on the following:
- Strengthen Michigan communities with enhanced services that provide for education, workforce training, health services, meeting space, and other community needs.
- Support Michigan Community Centers to fulfill their role as regional resource hubs.
- Provide funding for program activities and to help renovate Community Center facilities.
- Assist youth, families, and older adults to access education, training, recreation, health, cultural, environmental sustainability, and workforce development opportunities.
Michigan IPL is providing support as these congregations work to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. These improvements will generate cost savings that support the long-term financial sustainability of the organizations. Money saved on utility bills can be redirected toward serving the community. Where possible, climate resilience measures (e.g., renewable energy and battery backup) will be implemented to support the continuity of services that these Congregation Community Centers provide when the grid fails. Michigan IPL's program work will support these Congregation Community Centers as they become better prepared to meet the needs of the people they serve in times of weather emergencies and to engage their communities around topics of climate and energy.
Congratulations to these Congregational Community Center Grantees (all located in Detroit):
- Lord of Lords Ministries
- New Mount Hermon Baptist Church
- Pilgrim Baptist Church
- St. Peter's Episcopal Church
- St. Suzanne Our Lady Gate of Heaven / St. Suzanne Community Resource Center
- The Muslim Center
To stay up to date with energy efficiency, renewable energy and other creation care options for your congregation, or to learn more about Michigan IPL's work, please connect with us and sign up for our e-newsletter!
