City invests $95,500 in Neighborhood Match Fund projects

City invests $95,500 in Neighborhood Match Fund projects

Published on October 15, 2024

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The City of Grand Rapids recently made investments totaling $95,500 to support projects designed to bring community together, promote a deeper sense of belonging among neighbors, and celebrate New Americans in celebration of Welcoming Week. These investments are being completed with 25 contracts brought forward by local resident leaders as part of the City's Neighborhood Match Fund (NMF) program.

Grand Rapids residents lead or co-lead each project. A jury reviewed all applications for completeness and alignment to NMF objectives, including promoting social justice and inclusion. The approved proposals moved forward in the contracting process by having each project lead meet with the NMF team to create shared understanding on project scope and NMF contract requirements and discuss strategies for intentional and inclusive project outreach and impact.

The City will accept NMF project submissions for its next round December 1 to 31 for projects taking place March through August.

NMF contract awards for 2025R1 projects went to:

• Garfield Community Picnic - Project is an annual picnic that offers diverse music, live DJ, food, resources and books for neighbors in the Garfield Park community.
• I Matter We Matter - Project will provide mental health support groups three times per month for three months, as well as 10 weekly counseling sessions to individuals or families in the Black and Brown community that struggle with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. Services provided by a licensed Master Social Worker, Limited License Professional Counselor and Community Liaisons with lived experience.
• A Helping Hand - Project is partnering with organizations that work with the City of Grand Rapids Homeless Outreach Team to provide a minimum of 100 unhoused people in the community with support packages filled with daily essentials, food and information cards to local shelters, meal access, ID card information, temporary hiring agencies/job postings and assistance homes.
• Ashes Made Beautiful - Painting for Wellness with Ashes Made Beautiful: This project will host a day of mental wellness using paint and creative exploration and making space for healing resources and conversation.
• Garfield Park Neighborhood Association in Collaboration with Coming Home - Turkey Give Away & Marina's Fabulous Finds: Project will provide 300 families with a turkey and Miranda's Fabulous Finds home goods shopping experience.
• Positive Impact for Life - Living My Best Life Now Mental Wellness Walk Through: Project will provide culturally sensitive services and community-embedded resources for physical and mental health and wellness for neighbors living in the 49507 zip code.
• Aim to Inspire - End of summer Picnic: This project is hosting a picnic for the Special Needs community where young adults of varying abilities have the opportunity to fellowship with friends and family while enjoying a meal and entertainment from their peers.
• Grand Rapids African American Art & Music Festival - Project is a one-day event continuing the organization's ongoing effort to celebrate the outstanding contributions of African American artists in the Grand Rapids Community. This scope of work will be accomplished through visual and performing arts, discuss and immergence of the community into art, music, dance and food. Honoring and celebrating the many facets of the city's diversity, resident resiliency including the promotion of social justice and inclusion and quality of life in Grand Rapids.
• Healthy Homes Coalition of West MI - Strong Families Celebration: Project is educating neighbors on the importance of being environmentally conscience and celebrating families that have struggled with environmental hazards using a carnival theme.
• More Baskets No More Bullets: Project is a three-day event for youth, ages 12 to 17, to gather for food, fun and basketball. Youth will be provided with information on what to do to avoid violence and shootings in the community.
• Great Start Family Coalition - Harvesting the Love of Reading Harvest Fest: Project is an event centered around the Kent County Success Basics (Love, Talk, Count, Play & Read) while including fun activities for the family to enjoy.
• Healing in Men - H.I.M. Healing Breakfast: Project is a Healing breakfast for men to continue to develop trust and create space for men to get the support needed to feel and live healthier.
• Creston Neighborhood Association - Dinner+Talks: Live Greener: Project is continuing dinner + talks series with a new focus on sustainability. Six workshops will provide practical knowledge and skills on reducing waste, saving on utilities by weathering homes, indoor gardening, creative reuse, organizing community clean-ups and starting rain gardens.
• Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association - Safe & Healthy Roosevelt Park Neighborhood (SHPRN): Project is offering community safety opportunity focused on residents in the Roosevelt Park and Black Hills neighborhoods by partnering with a local auto repair shop to provide free break light and head light replacements.
• End of Summer Celebration: Project is an end of the summer picnic where the community can gather together for food, games and prizes. Local businesses will also be onsite, to provide resources.
• Treetops Collective - Spread Welcome Mural Project: Project is a welcoming event where neighbors can participate in painting by number a mural as well as hosting New American owned food vendors and businesses.
• Midtown Neighborhood Association - Midtown Grooves: Project is a community celebration with live music, food trucks, vintage market and games for families.
• Grandmas to the Rescue - Celebrando Tradiciones en Comunidad (Celebrating Traditions in Community): Project is a series of four community events to acknowledge and affirm cultural celebrations and observances within the Latino community. Project will provide play and gatherings for neighbors and give opportunity for the community to engage and listen to each others concerns and joys.
• Boston Square Neighborhood Association - 4th Annual Boston Square Tree Lighting: This project is a three-part holiday event series: 1) the 4th Annual Boston Square Community Christmas Tree Lighting, 2) Christmas Ornament Decorating, and 3) Caroling and Canvassing. This series of events is designed to celebrate and highlight the different cultures within the neighborhood through food, music and activities.
• Beyond the City - BTC Mini Adventures: Project will provide youth with new experiences and adventures around Grand Rapids that will help them to explore their dreams and aspirations, learn about different cultures and perspectives, and develop self-confidence and a deep appreciation for their own excellence.
• Neighbors of Belknap Lookout - Belknap Native Garden Initiative: This project will support a thriving ecosystem that benefits both our community and the local wildlife. Project will assemble 30 plant kits, host educational activities and support community engagement.
• West Michigan Welcome Plan Collaborative - Maximize Economic Potential Summit: Project will provide community members and service providers with the knowledge and tools needed for successful credential evaluation. Project is partnering with organizations to educate about degree and certification transfer and evaluation.
• Bridge Street House of Prayer - STEM Learning LabS for Middle Schoolers: Project will offer after-school tutoring to middle school age youth focusing on STEM, the arts, social-emotional learning, sports, and other rotating topics critical to youth development.
• Community Collaboration on Climate Change - The J.A.R.S. Journey: Project will host a series of workshops in the Boston Square area that are focused on agriculture, biking and community. The topics are based in environmental justice and community engagement.
• Community FUNDAY by ICE (Inner City Education): Project will provide a safe friendly environment for youth and adults to enjoy fun filled activities together to promote unity within the community. Project will highlight some mental health and wellness support that is available in the community.

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