Flint, Michigan – In celebration of working alongside the Flint community for 100 years, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has granted $600,000 to Genesee County Habitat for Humanity to support projects that residents propose and lead to strengthen their neighborhoods.
The Mott Foundation Centennial Neighborhood Improvement Initiative aims to support projects that foster connections among residents and enhance the quality of life in the Flint community. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Habitat and the Neighborhood Engagement Hub. The grant will provide funding of up to $20,000 for individual neighborhood projects, as well as support for Habitat and NEH to run the initiative and help residents and community groups through each step of the process.
“A neighborhood is more than just where people live. It’s where community is formed. It’s where friends gather, children play and residents support one another,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “Residents have told us time and time again that strengthening neighborhoods is a priority for them. We’re excited to see what ideas they come up with to make a difference in their neighborhoods.”
The initiative builds on the existing Flint BRAND program, which was launched by Habitat in 2016 and has been supported by the Mott Foundation since 2017. The new initiative will replace that program for 2026.
“The BRAND program is built on a simple belief: When residents lead, neighborhoods thrive. We’re deeply grateful to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for including us in their 100-year celebration and expanding their support this year,” said Tom Hutchison, Habitat executive director. “Because of their investment, we’re able to offer grants of up to $20,000, empowering residents to bring their ideas to life, strengthen community pride and continue building the Flint we all know is possible.”
The goal is to implement high-impact, neighborhood-designed projects that create a positive, lasting and visible change in the physical landscape of Flint neighborhoods. This includes projects that help activate, improve or enhance a public outdoor space.
Important information and guidelines:
- Through Mott Foundation grant funding, Habitat will provide project funding of up to $20,000 per project.
- Project funding is limited to projects within the city of Flint boundaries.
- Projects must be neighborhood specific. Planning groups must consist of neighborhood residents and stakeholders, and the project must take place in the same neighborhood as the group. Proposed projects cannot be located on private property.
- All proposed projects must be planned and led by a group of at least five unrelated community members of the neighborhood, and at least three of the lead group members must live in the neighborhood.
- The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 27.
“Every year, my team and I are excited to witness the projects that come out of the Flint BRAND program. The projects funded by this program directly align with the Neighborhood Engagement Hub’s efforts to strengthen neighborhoods in Flint,” said Tom Wyatt, NEH executive director. “We are ecstatic to see that the BRAND program is included in the Mott Foundation’s centennial, and we look forward to supporting the program and its participants.”
Residents are invited to attend one of three informational sessions at NEH, located at 3216 Martin Luther King Ave. Staff members from NEH and Habitat will be available to answer questions, brainstorm neighborhood improvement projects and support the application process. The sessions are scheduled for:
- Monday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.
Groups interested in applying for a grant or attending one of the three information sessions need to contact NEH staff to schedule a consultation or confirm attendance. Call 810-584-5022 or email michelle@nehflint.org to set up a meeting.
