COVID-19 Update: “Revolutionize” in Detroit Launched, GM and Detroit Regional Chamber Launch Annual NeighborHUB Grant Program, and More
August 19, 2020Aug. 13, 2020
GM and Detroit Regional Chamber Launch Annual NeighborHUB Grant Program
NeighborHUB, a collaborative effort between General Motors Co. in Detroit and the Detroit Regional Chamber designed to empower residents to affect change in their neighborhoods, has opened the application period for its third annual grant program.
Nonprofit organizations in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park may apply between now and Sept. 18 for grants of up to $30,000 and additional business support. Ten awardees will be announced this fall.
Given the impact of COVID-19 on the community, the NeighborHUB grant program has introduced new criteria and awards for the 2020-21 cohort:
- The total amount of grants that will be given out has doubled to $300,000, providing funding for five additional organizations.
- Small businesses, among the hardest hit financially by the pandemic, can partner with nonprofits that meet the criteria on an application.
- Eligible projects will be paired with GM volunteers who have expertise in areas such as marketing, engineering, law, information technology, etc.
- PPE supply also will be available all awardees.
“General Motors is proud to double this year’s NeighborHUB grant awards and offer our partners more capacity-building services and expertise,” says Terry Rhadigan, executive director of corporate giving for GM. “Each year, we hear directly from our neighbors about the challenges their communities are facing and the ideas they have to drive change. While this year might look a little different, Detroiters’ resiliency is unmatched and with that brings great hope for our future.”
Over the past two years, the program has awarded 13 grants totaling $390,000 to community nonprofits that have launched spaces designed to foster collaboration, change, and positively impact their neighborhoods.
“The lasting impacts of COVID-19 to the city of Detroit cannot yet be realized but have created ongoing challenges for the neighborhoods and their businesses,” says Tammy Carnrike, COO for the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Seeing past NeighborHUB grantees use their spaces during the pandemic to help is exactly why we created this program to empower neighborhoods from within their community.”
Successful proposals will have programming centered around a physical space and address a specific need or needs within the neighborhood.
A committee with representatives from local organizations helps with the selection of grant recipients. In addition to the chamber and GM, the committee includes representatives from Michigan Community Resources, the city of Detroit, Co.act Detroit, BLAC Detroit Magazine, and Techtown.