Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Housing Partnership Fund awarded its second round of grants to seven local housing creation projects. In total, $690,000 was awarded.
Projects receiving funding are expected to add more than 100 housing units in Fremont, Grant, Newaygo, and White Cloud. The projects include a mix of owner-occupied and rental units. The $690,000 awarded will enable recipients to leverage $6 million in total project investments.
In the Fremont area, Haven Design Build was awarded a $60,000 grant toward the construction of a duplex. Two larger multi-unit projects also received funding. Stone Hill Estates received a $150,000 grant and the City of Fremont received a $150,000 grant.
In Grant, Frey Management received $150,000 for a five-unit project in Ashland Township. TMW Properties was awarded a $60,000 grant for a duplex on Lee Street, and BMB Builders received $30,000 for a single-family home.
Moxy Homes was also awarded $90,000 to support a project that will add three single-family homes in White Cloud and Newaygo.
The grants are made possible through a partnership between the Community Foundation and Newaygo County. In 2023, county commissioners approved $1 million to help create the Newaygo County Housing Partnership Fund at the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees also earmarked an additional $1 million. A committee including county officials, Community Foundation staff, and community representatives like Julie Burrell of The Right Place was formed to create grantmaking guidelines and review proposals.
The first round of housing grants was awarded in early fall 2023. A total of $300,000 was awarded to three projects in the White Cloud and Hesperia areas. The projects were anticipated to add eight housing units in White Cloud and five in Hesperia.
“Over two grant rounds, we have helped builders and developers leverage nearly $9 million in new housing development projects,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “This represents more than 120 additional housing units, which are desperately needed in Newaygo County. We are grateful to work with the county and other local partners to address this need and provide support.”
“The board is very excited to see the added interest in the second round of proposals,” said Bryan Kolk, chair of the Newaygo County Board of Commissioners. “This is working out exactly as desired with the jump start of new housing projects. We can’t wait to see what the third round brings.”
A third round of housing grants will be open for applications on March 1, with proposals due on July 15. Nonprofit and for-profit developers are eligible to apply. Applicants are encouraged to leverage additional funding sources and seek the support of local municipalities. Housing developments must be located in Newaygo County to be eligible.
For more information on the application process, contact Lindsay Hager at the Community Foundation at 231.924.5350.
