SWMI REALTORS 2019 Placemaking Challenge Grant Program
The Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®, will be offering grants to community and/or neighborhood organizations for creating small, inexpensive, and incremental community projects. The projects should foster activities that can help to improve a neighborhood and make it a better place to live, work, and play. The Association’s grant program is called “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Placemaking Challenge”.
The grants will be funded through the National Association of REALTORS®, REALTOR® Party’s Placemaking Program. The funding for a project ranges from $500 up to $3,500. There will be two grants available. The amount could be a portion of or the total cost for the project. The NAR has the final approval for the grant amount and acceptance of the project.
The Southwestern Michigan Association (SWMAR) will be accepting applications for the grants from now until March 15, 2019. All applications should be sent to Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS (SWMAR) by fax: 269-983-5206 or email to: Kathy Pallas at kpallas@swmar.org.
The grant application and more information about the types of projects that could be funded can be found at www.swmar.com. At the top of the homepage click on “2019 LQC Placemaking Application”.
The grant application must describe the project and have a local REALTOR as a sponsor for it and have a before photo of the space to be improved. The first project must be completed by June 1, 2019. The second project approved must be completed by September 30, 2019. All project applications will be reviewed, and grant awardees will be announced no later than April 1, 2019.
In 2018, SWMAR awarded grants to three area groups for very unique projects. The first grant went to Village of Baroda to provide fencing and landscaping materials to build and beautify a dog park on the
south side of the Village Park. Tina Boehm, Township Clerk, explained, “We have a beautiful park by Hickory Creek that draws a lot of visitors. Quite a few of the people have dogs and it would be great to have a place for them to let their dog run and play. By having a dog park, it will draw more people to exercise their dogs and enjoy the other amenities the park has to offer.” Paul Dumke, Broker/Owner, Integrity R.E. Professionals Lakeshore, Stevensville was the Realtor sponsor for the Village
of Baroda Dog Park grant.
A $2,477 Placemaking Grant was awarded to Milton Township to help improve the park/playground area located next to the Township Hall. The township purchased items like bike racks to help the area stay organized and pet waste free and trash receptacles the area to stay clean. Mark E. VanDusen, Cressy & Everett R. E. was the Realtor sponsor for the Milton Township Park grant.
A third grant for $3,500, provided by the National Association of REALTORS and Southwester Michigan Association of Realtors was awarded to the North Berrien Community Development Association to purchase and install a beautiful two-faced Victorian style exterior post clock in Downtown Watervliet. The group’s goal was to make the clock a focal point in the community and to add a historical image to “Liberty Park” in the heart of the downtown walking district. Mikki Swisher, American Homes Real Estate, Coloma, was the Realtor sponsor for the North Berrien Community Development Association grant.
Some other examples of projects that have received grants in other states are community gardens, pedestrian plazas, dog parks, and alley activation as a gathering place.
If you have any questions about this grant program, you should contact the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS at 269-983-6375.
About
The Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®, Inc. is a professional trade association for real estate licensees who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and ancillary service providers for the real estate industry in Van Buren, Berrien and Cass Counties. The Association can be contacted at 269-983-6375 or through their website at www.swmar.com
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