Sometimes nonprofits need help to fulfill their mission of helping others within their communities. For Volunteers of America Michigan, when costly necessary roof repairs and upgraded lighting arose, they found a supportive partner in IFF. The community development financial institution that has provided millions of dollars of loans to five of the VOA Michigan thrift stores.
As the Midland County Courthouse is nearing its 100th anniversary, a new issue of The Midland Log revisits the historical building.
Michigan’s first-ever Statewide Housing Plan was released in June 2022, almost three years ago. A little over the halfway point of the comprehensive five-year plan, stakeholders and collaborative partners look at just how critical regional housing partnerships are in their own communities — moving the needle forward across the entire state.
Coffee shops serve an important role in rural communities. They're gathering places for friends, neighbors and community groups. It's a role BlackDog Coffee in Eaton Rapids has provided the past few years. That role will continue as the coffee shop transitions to another Michigan-made business, Foster Coffee Co.
“Once those ecosystems are lost, they can’t be recreated,” says Sarah Richmond of Springfield Township Parks and Recreation. The township collaborates with Oakland County Parks on projects to steward land in northern Oakland County.
Most of us mean well when we try to recycle, but sometimes it’s hard to do correctly. It can be overwhelming to understand what materials we should recycle, trash, or donate, but a new app is making it that much easier for Isabella County residents. The Isabella County Material Recovery Facility in Mt. Pleasant has launched the Recycle Coach app to help educate residents how to correctly dispose of their waste.
One of Kimball Township’s unique parks and recreation assets is about to become more accessible for residents and visitors alike. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County has purchased privately owned land on both sides of the Black River to develop a park featuring a canoe and kayak launch.
Life on the farm wasn’t always easy, but it certainly was memorable for Janet Defever, who grew up on the family dairy farm in Alma. The experience brought life lessons about gifts, second chances, and forgiveness she will never forget. Today, she shares these lessons in her debut children’s book, “Second Chance Christmas.”
IFF, a community development financial institution based in Illinois, has invested and shown a commitment to uplifting communities by providing financial support all over the state, including Grand Rapids neighborhoods. Part of IFF’s investment in Grand Rapids has been focused on the 49507 zip code, centered in a collection of neighborhoods southeast of downtown Grand Rapids. They're working with local nonprofits including Amplify GR and LINC UP and neighborhood residents to help propel development.
Housing Forward, a community-based initiative of the Midland Business Alliance, aims to use a holistic approach to provide solutions for the housing shortage in Midland.
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