COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM
The Community Development Mini Grant Application Period Is Open!
The Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning & Development Commission (EUPRPDC) is no longer accepting the Community Development Mini-Grants. This program was funded through the Eastern Upper Peninsula from Michigan’s Regional Prosperity Initiative, and the program will be suspended until a new funding source is found.
For four years, the Community Development Mini-Grant Program supported projects in Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac Counties which included mini-parks, wayfinding signage, playground improvements, and murals and public art.
Completed projects from the 2016 round: In 2017 a total of $40,000 was awarded to fifteen applicants, and over $80,000 leveraged in cash and in-kind match. The projects, which according to grant guidelines, are intended to adhere to Place-Making principals, attest to the recreational and outdoor nature of the communities of our region. The Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace will be developing an outdoor sculpture garden on their grounds. Ballfields managed by Luce County and Bay Mills Indian Community will see improvements, the City of Mackinac Island Recreation Department will build an ADA accessible path to Great Turtle Park, and Three Lakes Academy will continue to improve their Community Orchard and Outdoor Classroom. More park improvements will happen this summer in Trout Lake, DeTour, and Raber Townships. Garfield and Kinross Townships will be purchasing playground equipment with their awards. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Authority will partner to create a new mini-park in Downtown Sault Ste. Marie. Water access around the region will improve as well, particularly for paddlers in Clark Township and the City of St. Ignace. Complete The Trout Lake Pride Organization successfully applied for funds to construct a memorial pavilion in the downtown park. A legacy gift was made by the family of Robert “Bob” Simpson, and this space will provide a seat for quiet reflection and family picnics alike (pictured right). The Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Igance rebuilt their long house, our assistance allowed them to hire a craftsmen to finish the doors, but most of the work was completed by volunteers! New signs were installed at The Hessel School House and Avery Arts and Nature Learning Center. The students at Three Lakes Academy in Curtis planted a reading tree near the new well which serves the community orchard (pictured left). 
d projects from the 2016 round: 