JACKSON,
Mich., March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Consumers Energy Foundation announced today the top 10 finalists
for the Put Your Town on the Map Competition, which will provide
$50,000 in grant funding for three
projects to help small communities in Michigan grow and thrive.
"The Consumers Energy Foundation has been proud to sponsor this
competition since its inception, as every year we're able to
provide funding for placemaking projects that enhance Michigan's small towns as great places to
live," said Brandon Hofmeister,
president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. "With dozens of
project entries, selecting only 10 finalists was difficult, but
we're excited to learn more about these projects from the community
members most passionate about them."
Communities with fewer than 10,000 residents had until
Feb. 15 to apply. The finalists
are:
- Au Gres (Arenac County) for Kinder Platz Park "old fashion"
transformation
- Bellaire (Antrim County) for a community year-round
garden project
- Coopersville (Ottawa County) for a community outdoor fitness
park
- Dimondale (Eaton County) for a village history art
mural
- Imlay City (Lapeer County) for a public interactive art
and audio display
- Napoleon (Jackson County) for a heritage trail
project
- Rogers City (Presque Isle County) for a public art
sculpture
- Saranac (Ionia County) for a covered community concert
pavilion
- St. Johns (Clinton County) for community artistic
benches
- White Cloud (Newaygo County) for downtown planter
boxes/benches
The finalists, selected by the Consumers Energy Foundation and
the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), will make their pitches at
the Small Town and Rural Development Conference, which will take
place April 29. The top three winners
will receive grants worth $25,000,
$15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Consumers Energy started the competition in 2019. In 2023, grant
dollars were awarded to Fennville
to install bilingual community wayfinding signs, Reed City for the Crossroads Recreation
Connection, and Harbor Beach to
expand community gardening.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm
of Consumers Energy, Michigan's
largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth
and strengthening of Michigan
communities by investing in what's most important — our
people, our planet and Michigan's
prosperity. In 2023, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers
Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than
$11 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more information,
visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.
Consumers Energy, Michigan's
largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy
(NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7
million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
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SOURCE Consumers Energy