HCCF Announces Fall Grants
STEM Education and Placemaking were at the forefront of the Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) Grant awards during their Fall 2015 Grant Cycle. Over $12,000 was awarded to local projects this week as the grant award winners were announced.
HCCF published their strategic priorities last year after many community conversations and surveys. They continue to use those priorities to focus their grant funding. This year, many of the applicants impacted two strategic priority areas: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education and Placemaking, creating public spaces where people want to gather.
With the help of an HCCF Grant, a new MSU Extension program will be coming to Huron County. Thumb Dairy Odyssey, a program designed to increase knowledge around the field of dairy operations and showcase career opportunities in the field, will offer hands on learning opportunities for children ages 9-19. "This is the only program that focuses on Dairy exploration in the Thumb Area. Dairy operations are a large part of Huron County's history and future. We hope this program sparks an interest in area youth to pursue STEM careers and return to continue the legacy of these farms." said HCCF Executive Director, Mackenzie Price, of the project.
The largest placemaking project funded in the Fall 2015 Grant Cycle was the Bad Axe Little League Concession Stand Project. With a total project cost of $90,000, Bad Axe Little League had begun the process of soliciting funding from community members and local businesses before approaching HCCF for a grant. "This concession stand is a staple of spring and summer recreation for all of the teams in the county who utilizes the Bad Axe Little League Fields. The community has already begun to support this project, so we were happy to join the effort." Price noted.
A full list of grants can be seen below. Funding for these projects was provided by HCCF Field of Interest and Discretionary funds including: Education, Reading and Literacy Fund, Health and Medical Fund, Recreation Resources Trust Fund, Huron Medical Center Fund, Huron County Trust Fund, Huron County Economic Development Fund, and the Huron Natural Areas Preservation Fund.
Thumb Dairy Odyssey, Huron County MSU Extension - $500
Harbor Beach Rotary Gazebo Project - $800
Concession Stand Project - Bad Axe Little League - $3,000
FRC Team 5156, Laker High School FIRST Robotics - $2,750
Port Austin Street Sculptures - $750
The History Trail, Port Austin Historical Society - $479
Thumb Quilt Trail, Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn - $500
STEM Classroom, Ubly Community Schools - $350
