General Motors, Detroit Regional Chamber Launch Fourth Annual NeighborHub Grant Program at Mackinac Policy Conference

This year the program recognized the need to support small businesses, as important foundations for neighborhoods, especially in traditionally underinvested small business corridors. Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and small businesses located in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park are encouraged to apply for grants and additional business support. The application period will be open until mid-November with 20 awardees notified this fall.

• 10 grants of up to $30,000 will be awarded to nonprofits.
•  10 grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to small businesses.
•  With this year’s grant, the program will have awarded 44 grants totaling over $1 million ($1.19 million) to community nonprofits and small businesses that have created and enhanced spaces designed to foster collaboration, change, and positively impact their neighborhoods.
• Eligible projects will be paired with GM volunteers who have expertise in areas such as marketing, engineering, law, information technology, etc.

“General Motors is proud to support the NeighborHUB program with more than $1 million in grant awards over the last four years,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “Over the last eighteen months, Detroiters’ have persevered through extraordinary challenges, and we hear directly from our neighbors about what it takes to make substantive change in the community and build a brighter future.”

The core belief behind the NeighborHUB program is that the residents and stakeholders of Detroit’s neighborhoods know better than anyone else what their communities need. The program lets those closest to the neighborhood (nonprofits, block clubs, small business owners) dictate and design projects and spaces that directly address those needs and make the most significant impact.

“Throughout the pandemic seeing past NeighborHUB grantees use their spaces to help is exactly why we created this program to empower neighborhoods from within their community,” said Tammy Carnrike, chief operating officer for the Detroit Regional Chamber. “The Detroit Regional Chamber is proud to partner with GM to empower community-based leaders to make a difference in their neighborhoods.”

Past NeighborHUB grantee George Adams of 360 Detroit has been distributing PPE kits along with first aid supplies and toys for kids to local residents in the Virginia Park neighborhood, where their NeigborHUB project is located. Another grantee, Tacara Woods of the M.I.C.H.A.E.L organization, launched the group’s first-ever “Virtual Summer Camp,” amid the pandemic that is focused on helping children cope with the loss of a parent or relative due to violent crime.

The applicants that propose the most innovative and collaborative solutions to pressing issues facing their neighborhoods will be awarded a grant of up to $30,000, as well as complementary support services from the Chamber and GM. Successful proposals will have programming centered around a physical space and address a specific need or needs within the neighborhood. So examples include refurbishing a bus stop and organizing ride-sharing in that location; renovating a vacant storefront to provide services to adults to engage in education and work opportunities; building out an existing coffee shop to facilitate co-working and professional development; or improving a public park to provide after-school programming or promote community gathering.

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, City of Detroit, Co.act Detroit, BLAC Detroit Magazine, and TechTown.

To apply or register for an informational session, please visit detroitchamber.com/neighborhub.

About the Detroit Regional Chamber

Serving the business community for more than 100 years, the Detroit Regional Chamber is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected chambers of commerce in the country. As the voice for business in the 11-county Southeast Michigan region, the Chamber’s mission is carried out by creating a business-friendly climate and providing value for members. The Chamber also executes the statewide automotive and mobility cluster association, MICHauto, and hosts the nationally recognized Mackinac Policy Conference. Additionally, the Chamber leads the most comprehensive education and talent strategy in the state.

About General Motors 

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.