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New Healthy Muskegon Grants

<January 25, 2017> The goal of HEALTHY Muskegon is to develop and strengthen the local food system to increase healthy eating and support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund is making a wide variety of programs a reality in our community.

Last spring, over $186,000 in grant funding was awarded to organizations, schools, and municipalities across Muskegon County to develop healthy eating and access to healthy foods especially among children and seniors living in poverty.  At the end of 2016, another $37,000+ was awarded to support the following programs:

  • City of Muskegon to expand work being done on the Muskegon Area Food Hub Pilot Project.
  • Muskegon Public Schools in support of their Growing Goods program that combines core curriculum content with lifeskills education and a growing/preparing food experience for at-risk middle school youth.
  • Muskegon Family YMCA to expand their summer nutrition/education program.
  • Mona Shores Middle School to support the new Wellness and Leadership class for 7th and 8th grade students.
  • Mission for Area People to partner with community agencies to improve access to healthy foods for low-income seniors.
  • City of Muskegon Heights for continued growth of the City Farmers Market with increased vendors providing the only source of consistent source of fresh produce for Heights residents.
  • Coalition for Community Development’s Community Garden Network in Muskegon and Muskegon Heights.
  • Fruitport Lions for their summer 2017 Power of Produce for Seniors program.
  • Muskegon Rotary Foundation for the 1 in 21 Healthy Food program encouraging community- wide healthy eating and lifestyles.
  • Community enCompass for the addition of a small seed-starting greenhouse for the McLaughlin Grows “Watch Muskegon Grow” program.
  • Boys and Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore to support their Triple Play nutrition education program.

The mission of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund (MHEF) is to improve the health of Michigan residents and reduce the cost of health care, with special emphasis on the health and wellness of children and seniors. The fund was created as part of 2013 state legislation that allowed Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to become a nonprofit mutual health insurer. In 2016, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County received over $315,000 in grant funds from MHEF to support programs in Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, and Manistee counties. Additional information can be found at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund website at mhealthfund.com.