Consumers Energy Foundation to Award $50,000 for Three Small Towns in Put Your Town on the Map Competition

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The Consumers Energy Foundation is hosting the Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, offering $50,000 in grant funding for small communities in Michigan. The competition aims to support projects that drive business attraction, economic development, and population growth in communities with up to 10,000 residents. The top three winners will receive grants worth $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000 respectively. The competition is sponsored by the Consumers Energy Foundation and the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM). The Consumers Energy Foundation, along with Consumers Energy, its employees, and retirees, contributed over $11 million to Michigan nonprofits in 2023.

JACKSON, Mich., Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumers Energy Foundation is calling for entries in the annual Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, which will provide $50,000 in grant funding for three projects to help small communities in Michigan grow and thrive. Communities with up to 10,000 residents can submit proposals through Feb. 15.

"For many of Michigan's small communities, funding for one big project can make the difference for years of business attraction, economic development, and population growth," said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. "The Consumers Energy Foundation is proud to sponsor this competition to help enable creative ideas from passionate community members to give new life to small towns across the state."

The Put Your Town on the Map competition seeks to reward innovative ideas that attract visitors to downtowns, advance housing, education or employment, cultivate community pride and more. Community leaders can learn more and apply here.

The Consumers Energy Foundation and the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) will select 10 finalists to make their pitches at the Small Town and Rural Development Conference in June. 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. 

"I can imagine Hart a year from now with 75-100 visitors a day to see the Tin Man, walking through our artisan marketplace and reviewing local products, and shopping in Hart," said Jim Evans, Hart City Council member. The City of Hart was a 2022 grantee for its Hart Project Initiative to bring more art, including a 20-foot tin man sculpture holding a huge heart, in the city's downtown. 

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.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy  
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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

What is the Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition?

The Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition offers $50,000 in grant funding for small communities in Michigan to support projects that drive business attraction, economic development, and population growth.

Who sponsors the Put Your Town on the Map competition?

The competition is sponsored by the Consumers Energy Foundation and the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM).

How much grant funding will the top three winners receive?

The top three winners will receive grants worth $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000 respectively.

What is the mission of the Consumers Energy Foundation?

The Consumers Energy 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.

How much did the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees, and retirees contribute to Michigan nonprofits in 2023?

They contributed over $11 million to Michigan nonprofits in 2023.