Featured photo: Congressman Dan Kildee and Glenn Wilson, president and CEO of Communities First, Inc. (CFI).
WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) recently announced new federal funding that will support a new mid-Michigan AmeriCorps program helping to improve financial literacy and overall economic wellbeing among mid-Michigan families.
The $146,268 federal grant, awarded to Communities First, Inc. through the 2023 AmeriCorps American Rescue Plan Planning Grants competition, will be used to develop a new AmeriCorps program addressing financial insecurity for low-to-moderate income families.
“I am proud to announce this federal funding to support local organizations like Communities First, Inc. as they strive to make mid-Michigan an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Kildee. “Investing in financial literacy education is an important investment in a family’s future. In Congress, I will continue working to bring federal resources back home to our community.”
“The benefits of the AmeriCorps program are reciprocal. Communities First, Inc. has benefited from amazing, talented individuals who have added capacity to our work, and members have enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of community change,” said Essence Wilson, chief strategy officer of Communities First, Inc..
“We look forward to this partnership with AmeriCorps and to bringing people together to serve our communities,” added Essence Wilson.
In 2021, Kildee supported the passage of the American Rescue Plan into law. As a result of that legislation, AmeriCorps is investing $400 million, over five years, into the recruitment, training and development of the next generation of leaders. As a part of his 2023 community project funding initiative, Kildee secured funding to support financial literacy classes through Crim Fitness Foundation’s Families For Life program.
