Our rural philanthropy video series continues this month as we highlight the Community Foundation of Marquette County in the latest video, Unconventional Partnerships for Rural Prosperity.
Our rural philanthropy video series continues this month as we highlight the Community Foundation of Marquette County in the latest video, Unconventional Partnerships for Rural Prosperity.
Through the leadership of the Community Foundation of Marquette County, a unique partnership developed that included the Eagle Mine company and the Superior Watershed Partnership. The three entities are working together to ensure prosperous, healthy and sustainable outcomes for the people, environment and the economy in Marquette County.
Recognizing the importance of transparency and community trust, when Eagle Mine began mining operations in the UP it offered to provide access to the monitoring of the downstream environmental impact of the mine operations to the community.
The community foundation provided leadership and guidance to make it happen.
“We were really the neutral party,” Gail Anthony, executive director of the community foundation said. “Eagle Mine was willing to support it financially and the Superior Watershed Partnership was willing to do the third-party monitoring. The money was directed through the community foundation to the Superior Watershed Partnership and we had dispute resolution plans, so it would give all three parties the integrity that we needed.”
Through this work, the environmental reports and data are easily accessible to the community through the Superior Watershed Partnership’s website.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we did it, hung in there and continue to do it and it’s become a program that’s being touted worldwide so I’m proud that we stuck it out,” Anthony said.
The Eagle Mine has also set up a fund through the community foundation to support the Eagle Mine Technical Middle College Endowment Fund. The purpose of the fund is to benefit Marquette Alger Technical Middle College.
Check out the full video.
This video is the final installment in our 2018 rural philanthropy video series featuring innovative work underway by members serving rural communities.
The CMF Rural Philanthropy Affinity Group led the development of this series so members can learn from their peers about the creative and innovative solutions happening in Michigan’s rural places to improve the lives of residents.
Want more?
Check out the complete rural philanthropy video series:
Sturgis Area Community Foundation: Impact Investing for Economic Development
Rotary Charities of Traverse City: Providing Equitable Access to the Waterfront
Pennies from Heaven Foundation: Workforce Development
Placemaking: Nurturing Talent and Bringing it Home
Community Foundation of Marquette County: Unconventional Partnerships for Rural Prosperity
