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Mott Foundation commits up to $37 million to support new Flint Cultural Center Academy Upper School

Flint Area

Education from Birth Through College

Exterior rendering of FCC Academy Upper School showing a modern two-story building with gray metal paneling and large windows, with the building signage reading “FCC Academy Upper School.” A covered entrance with angled wood supports extends from the right side, where multiple people walk and gather along paved walkways, landscaped planters, and outdoor seating areas with trees.
An architectural rendering shows the main entrance to the planned Flint Cultural Center Academy Upper School. Rendering: Kingscott and Fielding International

Flint, Michigan — The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation intends to commit up to $37 million to support construction of a new upper school building for the Flint Cultural Center Academy, establishing a permanent home for the school’s 9-12 program on the Flint Cultural Center campus.

FCCA’s K-8 school, which is located on the Flint Cultural Center campus, currently serves approximately 675 students. The school launched its high school program in the fall of 2024 through a partnership with the University of Michigan-Flint, temporarily operating out of the Northbank Center. That program currently serves ninth and 10th-grade students and plans to expand through 12th grade by 2027.

The Mott Foundation continues to look for ways to support Flint kids, no matter where they attend school. The Foundation has long supported opportunities to strengthen educational opportunities for young people, from early childhood education to college and career training.

“The Mott Foundation is proud to support these collective efforts because we know that, when the community works together with a shared purpose, Flint kids thrive,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “For students and families who build their education around the Flint Cultural Center Academy, this upper school means they’ll be able to continue that journey all the way through graduation — with the same connections to the arts, science and culture that have shaped their learning from the start. We’re glad to support that.”

Aerial rendering of FCC Academy Upper School campus showing the rectangular school two level building with light-colored roofs connected by walkways, surrounded by trees, parking areas, and nearby streets. Groups of people are visible along sidewalks and crosswalks, and the surrounding neighborhood includes additional buildings, green spaces, and a large roadway adjacent to the campus.
An overhead rendering shows where the new school will be located on the Flint Cultural Center campus. Rendering: Kingscott and Fielding International

The new permanent facility, which will be built at 817 E. Kearsley St., responds to the need for a long-term home that fully integrates the upper school within the Flint Cultural Center campus and allows FCCA to expand student supports, extracurricular opportunities and community programming. The FCCA Upper School will support academic instruction, arts and culture integration, STEM and robotics education, athletics, career-connected learning and community engagement.

“The ongoing support from the Mott Foundation to strengthen high-quality educational initiatives for Flint kids is deeply appreciated,” said Eric Lieske, FCCA superintendent. “The extension of the FCCA Upper School will provide students with exceptional curricular and extra-curricular opportunities leading to career and college success. We are more than eager to get this project started.”

The Mott Foundation’s latest commitment builds on previous support. In 2018, the Foundation committed up to $25 million to cover the costs of designing, constructing and outfitting the K-8 school building, as well as additional funding for related improvements to the Flint Cultural Center campus. The K-8 building opened in fall 2019.

Construction is expected to begin on the approximately 83,000-square-foot facility in 2027, and the new building is anticipated to open in January 2029.

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