Much of the news today out of Detroit has to do with the weak consumer demand wreaking havoc on the big three U.S. automakers and the pronounced financial struggles of two of those firms.
But not all the news in the region is so glum. In fact, the metro Detroit community has a lot to look forward to in the great outdoors and in the art world thanks to new grants from the Erb Family Foundation.
The foundation recently announced their approval of over $2.5 million in grants to be awarded to a number of environmental initiatives and art-focused programs.
The Erb Family Foundation is a $100 million organization that uses its resources to improve Detroit communities and restore the Great Lakes basin.
The most recent round of grant making by the foundation will bring its first year of giving total to over $3.5 million.
Among the groups to benefit from the funds are four local watershed groups focused on improving water quality, working on conservation planning and offering education on the water projects in the area.
$200,000 of the total grant money will be awarded to the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Environmental Council to improve public policy regarding environmental health.
Erb family members have been longtime supporters of arts in the area and money from the latest round of grants will further their cause including helping groups running art programs in the central city neighborhoods flourish.
Ensuring that art can be viewed and appreciated by all the city’s residents, $100,000 is being awarded to the Heidelberg Project, described as "an internationally recognized but seriously under-resourced community arts icon in Detroit."
The project – which will receive the funds over two years – is developing a cultural village in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.
