Building Communities

Rural Leadership Fellows boost development projects in the U.P.

The program aims to encourage students to pursue careers in the U.P.

Latest in Building Communities
Nicole Milton
FHLBank Indianapolis first-time home ownership program making Michiganders’ dreams a reality

FHLBank Indianapolis HomeBoost program offered up to $15,000 in down payment and closing and counseling costs assistance in its pilot year. For the program's return, those who qualify can receive up to $25,000.  

The new Commongrounds building on Eighth Street in Traverse City.
Commongrounds uses co-op model to serve missing needs of the community

Traverse City's Commongrounds is a mixed-use building, offering affordable housing, co-working space, a coffee shop, child education center, and performance venue. It's the first real estate cooperative in northern Michigan.

King's Kid Christian Daycare staff members Adrian Robinson, left, Lolita Granger, center and Tamara Jones laugh Wednesday, July 17, 2024, as they play with toys in one of the classrooms in the Detroit child care center.
MiLEAP fund provides essential equipment, upgrades for child care facilities

Quality child care is necessary, but not always available or affordable. The MiLEAP Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund has launched a $59 million fund to provide new and expanding home-based and center-based facilities across the state.   

Regional Housing Partnerships addressing need for affordable housing

As part of the Region I Regional Housing Partnership, the Capital Area Housing Partnership and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission are tasked with developing local action plans to address the housing crisis. City and state government, neighborhood developers including Forsberg Real Estate, and area nonprofits are working together to address homelessness in greater Lansing and to attract residents to Eaton Rapids. 

Elevate grants help small Michigan businesses level up

Although headquartered in Indiana, the FHLBank of Indianapolis provides access to grant programs and resources for small businesses throughout Michigan. The Elevate Grant aims to generate more economic opportunity for all, and helps small businesses like Mushroom House Tours in Charlevoix and The Poke Bowl in Flint to level up.  

Building opportunities for U.P. students to enter the construction trades

Responding to a shortage of skilled workers in the construction trades, a host of programs in the U.P. are providing training to encourage high school and college students to consider entering the construction field. 

A family poses in front of their ICCF community land trust home.
Community land trusts make home ownership possible for more Michiganders

Michigan has a huge housing shortage. To address this need, many communities are utilizing community land trusts, like ICCF, to ensure affordable homeownership for generations to come.   

Corktown Health staff
CDFI funding helps Corktown Health expand services for Detroit area’s LGBTQ residents

Corktown Health has evolved and grown from offering end-of-life services during the HIV/AIDS epidemic to providing primary care for the LGBTQ community. Through financial support from IFF, and through partnerships with local organizations including MiGen, the health network continues to provide a life-changing impact on the patients it serves.   

Rendering of Sawmill Lofts in Grayling
Recent Michigan housing legislation incentivizes more housing developments

As part of the Make it in Michigan Strategy, the state of Michigan has new finance tools and opportunities to convert vacant land into housing via the Transformational Brownfield Fund and tax increment funding. The State Land Bank Authority and Michigan Community Capital are working with state, local, and federal organizations to develop attainable workforce housing in their communities.   

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