In anticipation of state and federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), several organizations, including CMF members, in Northern Michigan, are partnering to ensure their communities are prepared for these dollars. 

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation (GTRCF), Rotary Charities of Traverse City, Traverse Connect and Networks Northwest have partnered with Public Sector Consultants (PSC) to facilitate a regional approach to identify community partnerships, encourage collaboration and navigate incoming ARPA funding. 

“Bringing these resources to our region has the potential to create an infusion of funding we’ve not seen before to advance efforts around major economic, environmental and social priorities. These dollars have the potential to accelerate and advance outcomes on complex, and deeply rooted, challenges – things like attracting and retaining working families in our region, attainable housing, school readiness, youth mental health and safety and more,” Dave Mengebier, president and CEO of GTRCF and CMF trustee said.

The organizations will begin by identifying the region’s key priorities and projects by engaging the public and a broad range of public, private and nonprofit sector stakeholders in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties.

Mengebier shared that the projects will be submitted through an inventory tool and will be cataloged in a publicly available database to allow for greater information sharing and awareness and to improve collaboration. Each project will be evaluated based on criteria including funding eligibility, capacity to manage major grants and sustainability once ARPA and infrastructure funds are spent. 

“Our goal is to identify shared priorities that will increase the quality of life and economic success across the region; determine which are eligible for ARPA and other federal and state funding opportunities; then work together to maximize the amount of funding the region can secure and leverage to support these shared priorities,” Sakura Takano, CEO of Rotary Charities of Traverse City said. “We look forward to bringing together projects the public and our community partners submit.”

Once regional priorities have been identified and evaluated, partners that share these priorities will be identified and their collaborative efforts will be supported. 

“We know that this work, particularly related to ARPA funding, is a bit of an experiment and we really can’t predict what the result will be. However, regardless of the outcome, we have confidence that the partnerships and collaboration in place are of value and will support positive action and outcomes going forward,” Mengebier said.

The partners involved in this project are all members of the Northwest Michigan (NWMI) Community Development Coalition and together have established 13 shared priorities community objectives in the areas of economy, society and environment. 

Mengebier shared that one of the major goals in convening the coalition was to meaningfully leverage the power of working together across sectors in order to accelerate action and effect positive, transformational change. 

“This effort is an example of how the coalition promotes collaboration and of the opportunity to leverage resources to advance key community priorities. GTRCF has had the support and opportunity to serve as the convener in the NWMI Community Development Coalition, providing backbone support that is essential for collaborative efforts to be sustained and have a chance for success,” Mengebier said. 

Across the state, philanthropy is forging new partnerships to equitably navigate the influx of incoming federal funding. 

Through the guidance of CMF’s Michigan Philanthropy COVID-19 Working Group and approval of the Board of Trustees, CMF established the Statewide Equity Fund (SEF) Strategic Support Pilot in May 2021.

The SEF Strategic Support Pilot is a $2 million CMF member-driven pooled fund aimed at providing the infrastructure needed to help shape incoming ARPA and other federal dollars toward equity-centered approaches to advance economic prosperity in communities. 

The SEF Strategic Support Pilot is now supporting the work of five regional collaboratives, led by CMF members, working closely with their local units of government to help inform investments that seek systemic change.  

We look forward to sharing more of the learnings from this pilot as the regional efforts unfold. 

Want more?

Read the full press release. 

Learn more about the Statewide Equity Fund.

Read more about how CMF members are forging new partnerships to navigate incoming federal funding.

Read more about the SEF Strategic Pilot.