Detroit Regional Chamber > Detroit Policy Conference > NeighborHUB Renewed for Third Year During the Next Decade of Neighborhood Revitalization

NeighborHUB Renewed for Third Year During the Next Decade of Neighborhood Revitalization

January 30, 2020

Since 2018, the NeighborHUB Grant Program has awarded $30,000 grants to 13 community-based nonprofits in Detroit. The program’s success has helped organizations engage Detroiters to drive change and demonstrate that funding neighborhood projects does not always require large investments.

At the 2020 Detroit Policy Conference, panelists including George Adams of 360 Detroit Inc., Shamyle Dobbs of Michigan Community Resources, Karen Knox of Eden Gardens Community Association, and Terry Rhadigan of General Motors Co. joined moderator Tammy Carnrike, chief operating officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber in exploring the program’s impact on communities and the framework the Chamber and General Motors Co. set with NeighborHUB that can be replicated by businesses of all sizes in their communities. 

Terry Rhadigan, who is executive director of Corporate Giving for General Motors, shared that the idea for NeighborHUB was born out of a brainstorming session between Carnrike and her team to come up with ideas for ways to give back to Detroit communities. 

“What’s lesser known is [GM’s] commitment to neighborhoods,” said Rhadigan. “We wanted to do more, and we wanted to do something tangible.” 

For Karen Knox, executive director of Eden Gardens Community Association, the NeighborHUB grant was what her Eastside Detroit nonprofit needed to build an outdoor space for both elders and young people alike in her community to come together.  

“When elders interact with younger people, it helps them not get dementia,” explained Knox. “Now Neighbors are starting to know each other, and elders are starting to not be fearful of the youth.” 

CEO of Michigan Community Resources Shamyle Dobbs explained why grants like NeighborHUB are vital to the grassroots organizations making a difference in Detroit neighborhoods. 

“Many of these organizations are doing these things after their nine to five jobs,” said Dobbs. “These are women, these are individuals of color on the front lines doing the work.” 

Founder and President of 360 Detroit Inc. George Adams shared that his nonprofit plans to use its grant money to finance the creation of an art house, based on feedback from his community. By partnering with Henry Ford Health Center, the nonprofit will offer nutritional cooking classes, as well as literacy. 

Rhadigan closed out the session with the announcement that there will be a third cohort of NeighborHUB grant awardees in 2020, for which applications will open up in the spring.  

Thank you to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for sponsoring this session.