From April to September 69, community-based groups will clean and green nearly 3,700 vacant properties in and around the city of Flint every three weeks. Block clubs, schools, churches, neighborhood associations and local non-profits are some of the 69 community-based groups participating in the 2021 Clean & Green program.
Each group receives a stipend for maintaining at least 25 properties every three weeks. 10 new groups were selected to participate this season after receiving more applications than ever before. Most of the groups include neighborhood youth, who then create change in their own neighborhoods.
Clean & Green officially kicked off on Thursday, April 28th at its 1st ever digital kick-off event via Zoom. Representatives from each of the Clean & Green groups gathered together virtually to review program information, guidelines and resources.
Residents can anticipate seeing an impact as Clean & Green volunteers clean, clear and beautify neighborhoods across the city of Flint. Groups often start with an area wide clean up to prep for regular mowing. Residents are encouraged to connect with local Clean & Green volunteers to support the fight against blight efforts.
Clean & Green community groups make neighborhoods safer through their work. Clean & Green maintenance reduces crime according to research by the University of Michigan, Youth Violence Prevention Center; 30% fewer assaults than street segments with vacant, abandoned lots without community-engaged greening activities and 40% fewer violent crimes overall.
About the Genesee County Land Bank’s Clean & Green Program
Clean & Green has been a program of the Genesee County Land Bank since 2004. The purpose of the Clean & Green program is to support innovative community groups and organizations in the cleaning, maintaining and beautifying of otherwise vacant properties in Genesee County.
Through the program, community groups seasonally maintain concentrated clusters of vacant properties. Each participating group receives a stipend for maintaining at least 25 properties every three weeks from April to September. Groups are selected to participate in the program through a competitive application process. The 2021 Clean & Green program is supported through grant funding from the Ruth Mott Foundation, the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center and MSHDA through the Hardest Hit Fund. For more information on Clean & Green e-mail cleangreen@thelandbank.org or call (810) 293-0663.
About the Genesee County Land Bank’s other greening options: Lots Available
While Clean & Green is open to community-based groups only, the Genesee County Land Bank has created options for those who want to green lots held by the Land Bank whom are not eligible for Clean & Green, including individual residents. There are three ways that both groups and individual residents can access lots held by the Land Bank: Adopt-A-Lot, Lease-A-Lot, and Side Lot sales. For more information on the Land Bank’s Lots Available, visit www.thelandbank.org or visit the office – 452 S. Saginaw St. 2nd Floor, Flint.
