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Detroit Regional Chamber > Chamber > Rocket Community Fund Announces $1M Grant With Detroit Regional Chamber to Help College Students Overcome Barriers to Completing

Rocket Community Fund Announces $1M Grant With Detroit Regional Chamber to Help College Students Overcome Barriers to Completing

January 22, 2026

Yesterday, Rocket Community Fund and the Detroit Regional Chamber announced a $1 million grant to support students across the Detroit region as they work to overcome barriers to completing their education.

Learn more in the news release below.

Jan. 21, 2026

  • Investment will address common financial barriers for students, including food insecurity, transportation and housing, that force students off their educational path.
  • New grant expands Rocket Community Fund’s partnership with Detroit Regional Chamber, which aims to increase the region’s postsecondary education attainment to 60% by 2030.

Rocket Community Fund and the Detroit Regional Chamber today announced a $1 million grant to support students across the Detroit region as they work to overcome barriers to completing their education. This funding, awarded to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s TalentEd initiative, will help college students facing housing and food insecurity, create stronger connections between colleges and employers and provide more support for adult learners working to finish their education.

Laura Grannemann Headshot

“Students succeed when they can focus on their academic pursuits. Too often, their attention is divided because of personal or financial challenges. By investing in wrap-around supports and stronger connections between education and employers, we can remove barriers for talent across our region to truly thrive.”

– Laura Grannemann, Executive Director, Rocket Community Fund

By eliminating these disruptions and barriers to educational attainment, individuals can focus on gaining the skills and credentials needed to support themselves, their families and their communities.

The next phase of the partnership will focus on:

  • Establishing a wrap-around service model and systems-level student success initiatives at higher education institutions. This includes providing emergency funds to students who encounter unexpected, cost-related challenges, like transportation or housing, that may impact their ability to keep up with their education.
  • Building on previous career pathway mapping work by coordinating credential programs with employer and labor market needs.
  • Expanding the Chamber’s adult learner engagement even further through targeted outreach campaigns and storytelling.

Greg Handel

“Amid rising home and food costs, students are facing increased barriers to completing their education, and many are forced to choose between putting food on the table or staying in school. Short-term wrap-around services go a long way to ensure they can stay enrolled and earn that credential or degree needed to get a good-paying job. The Rocket Community Fund’s continued support is critical to helping the Chamber meet this rising demand and help keep college accessible to more people.”

– Greg Handel, Chief Education and Talent Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber

This grant builds on Rocket Community Fund’s prior investments with the Detroit Regional Chamber to support student success. In 2022, Rocket Community Fund partnered with the Detroit Regional Chamber and Last Mile Education Fund to expand the Detroit Area Talent Fund, providing last-dollar scholarships and emergency supports to help students stay enrolled and complete their education. This investment continues that momentum by aligning direct student support with strategies to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.

In addition to its philanthropic investment, Rocket Community Fund will work with Rocket Companies to develop strong career pathways and opportunities for students served by TalentEd initiatives.

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Learn More About TalentEd