Partner Partner Content How Enbridge’s community grants power Michigan’s future

Across the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Michigan, Enbridge has long served as a vital pipeline of support for local municipalities, emergency services, and a wide array of nonprofit organizations.

As the owner and operator of the Line 5 pipeline—which traverses both Michigan peninsulas to deliver essential crude oil and natural gas liquids to regional refineries—the Canadian-based energy company views its role as more than just an infrastructure provider. Through its Fueling Futures program, Enbridge consistently funds education, workforce development, emergency services, and environmental conservation.

Over the years, Enbridge has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Michigan communities. In 2025, the company awarded several hundred thousand dollars in grants across the state, with more than 50 percent of those funds specifically targeting the U.P. and Northern Michigan

“We try to be involved in programs that make communities work,” says Lauren Brown, Enbridge’s Senior Advisor for Community Engagement, who lives and works in St. Ignace. “We live in these communities. It’s a corporate responsibility, but it’s also personal for our employees.”

Enbridge organizes its philanthropic efforts under three core pillars: Vibrant Communities, Safe Communities, and Sustainable Communities.

Vibrant Communities: Building the Future

Vibrant Communities grants are geared toward education, workforce development, food security, and long-term regional health. These awards typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, targeting projects that create a lasting ripple effect.

One recent standout recipient is the Great Lakes Recovery Center Foundation, which received a $20,000 grant to open an 18-bed residential recovery house for women in Sault Ste. Marie.

“The organization addresses critical addiction issues that impact every community in the U.P.,” Brown says. Beyond residential care, the foundation offers mental health services, child and adolescent care, and reentry case management.

In the realms of education and industry, Enbridge has focused heavily on the “blue” and “gray” collar economies. Grants were recently awarded to the Marine Trades Institute in Cedarville and the Industrial Arts Institute in Onaway.

The Marine Trades Institute (formerly the Great Lakes Boat Building School) used a recent grant to purchase new marine equipment and technology, ensuring students are trained on the latest tools used in boat building and marine repair. Meanwhile, at the Industrial Arts Institute, students in the 19-week industrial welding program gain the hands-on experience necessary for immediate employment.

“We appreciate the opportunity to support these types of organizations because they are developing a workforce that we all rely on for goods and services and infrastructure,” Brown says. “These organizations turn out the electricians, mechanics, and welders who are work-ready the moment they leave their programming.”

Safe Communities: Supporting First Responders

The Safe Communities pillar provides critical support to police, fire, and emergency management departments. While many of these grants range from $1,500 to $3,500 for specialized gear, Enbridge also provides in-kind donations, such as retired service trucks that are repurposed for local municipal use.

A major recent contribution included a $75,000 grant to Mackinac County 911 & Emergency Management. These funds are being used to overhaul public safety communications and purchase modern emergency equipment.

“Everyone is reliant on our emergency services and first responders,” Brown notes. “In that way, every resident is impacted when these upgrades are completed.”

Sustainable Communities: Stewarding the Land

Focusing on environmental stewardship, Sustainable Communities grants allow Enbridge to partner with organizations dedicated to protecting Michigan’s unique ecosystems.

Recently, Enbridge staff and volunteers joined ReLeaf Michigan—the state’s only statewide tree-planting non-profit—to plant 25 red oaks and maples on public land in Mackinaw City. Supported by a $20,000 grant, the project aims to improve local air quality and enhance the natural beauty of the Straits area.

Additionally, Enbridge supports the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, a nonprofit dedicated to the research and conservation of birds of prey. A recent grant supported the organization’s work at the North Straits valve site in St. Ignace, where researchers band Northern Saw-whet Owls to monitor migratory patterns and population health.

“Stewarding the environment and the ecosystems of the communities where we live and operate are core values for the Enbridge organization and its team of dedicated employees,” Brown says.

Combatting Hunger Close to Home

Food security remains a priority for the regional team. As part of Enbridge’s annual involvement in the 4-H livestock auction at the U.P. State Fair in Escanaba, the company purchased local livestock and donated more than 900 pounds of meat to seven regional organizations.

The recipients of this high-quality protein included:

• Delta County Senior Center
• Escanaba Student Success Center
• St. Ignace Food Pantry
• Salvation Army of Sault Ste. Marie
• Cedarville Post Emergency Food Pantry
• Cheboygan Senior Center
• Chippewa Luce Mackinac Community Action

Beyond those endeavors, Enbridge is a regular contributor to the region’s cultural landscape. This includes consistent funding for small-town theater groups, which serve as vital creative outlets for rural residents.

Additionally, the company is a major sponsor of two of the U.P.’s most iconic traditions: the U.P. State Fair in Escanaba and the UP 200 in Marquette. The latter is recognized as one of the country’s premier dog sled races, drawing mushers and spectators from across the continent to the snowy heart of the peninsula. These sponsorships ensure that the unique heritage and  community-gathering events that define U.P. life continues to flourish year after year.

A Personal Commitment

For the team at Enbridge, these checks and donations represent more than just line items in a corporate social responsibility report. Because many of the employees—like Brown—are lifelong residents of the U.P. and Northern Michigan, they see the impact of these grants at their local grocery stores, schools, and fire departments.

Whether it is training the next generation of welders in Onaway or ensuring a food pantry in Cedarville is stocked for the winter, Enbridge’s goal remains the same: ensuring that the regions providing the energy for the state are themselves energized and resilient. By investing in the people, the safety, and the land of Northern Michigan, Enbridge isn’t just maintaining a pipeline; it’s helping to sustain a way of life.