Mott Community College awarded $12,000 grant from United Way of Genesee County to support campus food pantry
The Foundation for Mott Community College (MCC) has been awarded a $12,000 grant from the United Way of Genesee County through its 2026-2027 Basic Needs: Emergency Support Services fund. The grant will support the Venkat Rao Mott Eats Food Pantry, expanding access to nutritious food and essential personal care items for students, faculty and staff across Genesee County.
“By addressing basic needs with support from the United Way of Genesee County grant, our students can remain focused on their primary goal of completing their education,” said Shaunda Richardson-Snell, president of Mott Community College. “No student should be hindered from obtaining a degree due to food insecurity, and our comprehensive support programs are dedicated to helping them succeed.”
Operating out of the Lenore Croudy Family Life Center on MCC’s Flint campus, the food pantry serves as a critical resource for individuals facing food insecurity and economic hardship. The $12,000 award contributes to the pantry’s $150,664 overall annual budget and will directly offset food purchasing cost
Designed to remove basic needs barriers that disrupt academic success, the pantry plays an essential role in a community where local poverty rates remain well above state and national averages. By subsidizing basic food expenses, the grant enables the Lenore Croudy Family Life Center to reallocate its primary budget toward other vital student wrap-around supports, including crisis emergency funds, book and technology loans, mental health services and specialized trade course kits.
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of MCC and the United Way of Genesee County to foster stability, support student retention and drive long-term community success.
To learn more about the services Mott Community College offers its students and the community, visit mcc.edu/services.
Mott Community College awarded $75,000 Grant from Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to support Teen CEO Initiative
Mott Community College (MCC) has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to support the 2026 Teen CEO Initiative. Running from June 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026, the grant funding directly supports MCC’s six-week summer entrepreneurship program designed to transform local high school students into confident business owners.
Hosted at the Regional Technology Center on MCC’s main campus, the 2026 Teen CEO Summer Program serves 40 Flint and Genesee County youth aged 14 – 18. The program combines core entrepreneurship curriculum with hands-on prototyping in MCC’s Fabrication Lab (FabLab), bridging academic concepts with practical manufacturing, branding and business development.
“The Teen CEO Initiative gives our region’s young people a head start on entrepreneurship while instilling in them the belief that they are capable of building a solid foundation for their future,” said Mott Community College President Shaunda Richarsdson-Snell. “We are grateful to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for helping us turn their goals into hands-on experience.”
Designed to foster youth development and workforce readiness, the structured schedule simulates a professional workday. Participants gain mastery in financial literacy, public speaking, business etiquette and elevator pitches while taking part in talent tours of local Flint enterprises. The program also incorporates peer leadership by designating returning program graduates as mentors for incoming students.
Through the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation grant, MCC will provide direct seed capital and stipends ($1,000 each) to 15 standout student entrepreneurs to launch their ventures, while providing completion stipends to all program graduates.
In addition, program participants will gain hands-on prototyping and technical experience through MCC’s FabLab and computer labs where they will build physical product prototypes, create digital marketing assets and design professional branding. Program completers will walk away with a finished business plan, professional portfolio and pitch deck, preparing them for business growth post-program. Completers will share their pitch through a Teen Tank format, similar to the widely popular Shark Tank program.
Students interested in youth entrepreneurship programs or learning more about the Teen CEO Initiative at Mott Community College should visit https://www.mcc.edu/wfed/teen-ceo-program.shtml.
Mott Community College awarded $252,500 grant to expand early childhood education through Strong Beginnings program
Mott Community College (MCC) Early Childhood Learning Center has been selected by the Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency and Genesee Intermediate School District to receive a $252,500 grant to operate a Strong Beginnings pilot classroom. The award will allow MCC to expand high-quality early childhood education to local 3-year-old children and their families for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years.
“By bringing the Strong Beginnings program to our campus, we are able to support children during a foundational stage of their development,” stated Shaunda Richardson-Snell. “This investment reflects our commitment to driving long-term success for families across our entire community.”
The $252,500 grant includes $20,000 for startup costs, $225,000 for program operations and $7,500 for transportation to launch and sustain a dedicated 3-year-old classroom. Operating as a school-day model four days per week, the program will provide hands-on learning, in-class child-sized facilities and wrap-around care options. MCC will implement the HighScope curriculum alongside routine Ages and Stages Questionnaires developmental screenings and Child Observation Record assessments.
Designed to support early child development and family well-being, the initiative also fosters engagement through parent workshops, home visits and seasonal events such as Parent Cafés and Kindergarten Transition Workshops. Serving a diverse population on a community college campus, the center focuses on building foundational social-emotional, self-regulation and academic skills to set children up for long-term success.
Families interested in applying for early childhood programs or learning more about the Early Childhood Learning Center at Mott Community College should visit www.mcc.edu/eclc/index.shtml.
