Charles Stewart Mott Foundation announces $1 million in grants for Flint neighborhoods

Residents are invited to submit ideas and help decide where the money goes

A sign reading "clear green" is propped against a stump and with yellow and red tulips growing around it.
The Clean and Green program is one of several community efforts to beautify neighborhoods. Photo: Sarah Schuch

Flint, Michigan — The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation announced today that it will commit $1 million to address neighborhood improvements, safety and blight in Flint in the coming year. Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Foundation, made the announcement via a Facebook video.

The announcement comes after months of dialogue with the community. The Foundation hosted 28 conversations throughout the city of Flint and heard from nearly 400 residents and business owners who shared their priorities for making Flint a better place to live, learn, work and play.

“Residents told us a focus on neighborhoods is their top priority, and they want to see improvements to address safety and blight,” said White. “We want to be able to respond quickly to those concerns.”

The Foundation will host a town forum on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Mott Community College’s Event Center to further discuss residents’ priorities, the $1 million in grants and how the community can help guide where the money goes.

All are welcome to attend the free event, but registration is required. Please register at focusonflint.org/community-forum.

Because the Foundation wants to make it easy for people to provide input, residents also may submit ideas at focusonflint.org/ideas, send e-mail or call the Foundation at 810-237-4888. The Foundation will accept ideas until Nov. 30.

In keeping with what residents identified as their top concerns, community members are asked submit ideas in the following categories:

  • Demolition.
  • Housing improvements.
  • Neighborhood clean-ups and beautification.
  • Streetlight and sidewalk repairs.

After ideas are collected, Mott Foundation staff will report what they heard and give the community opportunities to weigh in and help determine where the Foundation’s money will go.

“We appreciate residents taking time to share their experiences and advice with us,” White said. “We’re excited to have their help and insight regarding the best ways to strengthen neighborhoods throughout the city.”


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