General Motors, Detroit Regional Chamber Launch Third Annual NeighborHUB Grant Program
August 10, 2020To apply or register for an informational session, please visit detroitchamber.com/neighborhub.
DETROIT, MICH. (August 10, 2020) – Today, an expanded NeighborHUB community grant program opened its application period for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park to apply for grants of up to $30,000 and additional business support. The application period will be open until Sept. 18, 2020 with 10 awardees notified this fall.
Given the impacts 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. An example of this would be a small business that wanted to offer space for a project for community programming, gatherings, classes, workshops etc.
- Eligible projects will be paired with General Motors volunteers who have expertise in areas such as marketing, engineering, law, information technology, etc.
- PPE supply will also be available all awardees.
Now in its third year of funding neighborhood-focused projects, NeighborHUB is a collaborative effort between General Motors and the Detroit Regional Chamber designed to empower residents to affect change in their neighborhoods through a physical presence and innovative programming.
“General Motors is proud to double this year’s NeighborHUB grant awards and offer our partners more capacity-building services and expertise,” said 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,” said Tammy Carnrike, chief operating officer 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.”
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 neighborhood 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. (i.e. A vacant storefront or within an existing building; 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.
“As this nation grapples with the chokehold of a pandemic (COVID-19) within a pandemic (anti-blackness) – it is crucial that dedicated investments continue to flow to communities of color, indigenous people and projects,” said Shamyle Dobbs, CEO of Michigan Community Resources. “Now in its third year, the NeighborHUB program creates a pipeline of dedicated investments connected to skilled volunteers, that support community resilience in the City of Detroit. As corporations across our nation seek pathways to breathe new life into their value propositions of equity – this program reflects a wonderful model to replicate.”
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 through creating a business-friendly climate and value for members, leading a robust economic development strategy, and convening Michigan’s most influential audience at the nationally unique Mackinac Policy Conference.
About General Motors
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.