April 6, 2016
The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce’s Moving Flint Forward Initiative is off to a rousing start, thanks to the pledges of support from several key community stakeholders. This is just the beginning of a long-term collaborative effort by the Flint & Genesee Chamber and its partner organizations to keep Flint & Genesee on a positive trajectory, despite Flint’s water situation.
CEO Tim Herman announced the initiative at the Chamber’s 2016 Annual Meeting on March 24. The cornerstone of Moving Flint Forward is the Genesee Chamber Foundation’s new charitable fund to help tackle the immediate and long-term business development needs arising out of, or magnified by, the Flint water emergency. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint is the fund’s steward.
Last week, the Moving Flint Forward Fund took a giant leap forward with a $1 million commitment from the FlintNOW Foundation, a private-sector initiative by Tom Gores, Chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity and Owner of the Detroit Pistons.
Work has already begun on the grant-making process. Orientations were held at Berston Field House on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to educate owners on how they may apply for grants up to $10,000 from the Moving Flint Forward Fund.
“The turnout at those sessions was phenomenal,” Herman said. “The impact is real and we’re very fortunate to have the strong support of the Tom Gores and Huntington Bank in getting this up and running so quickly.”
But he added that this is one piece of a long-term effort.
“There are other elements to this initiative that are being developed,” said Herman. “In addition, we are working to grow the Moving Flint Forward Fund to ensure that we have the financial resources to do the work that needs to get done.”
To give online to the Moving Flint Forward Fund, please visit the Community Foundation of Greater Flint at www.fundsforflint.org.
To give by check, make payable to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and write “Moving Flint Forward Fund” on the memo line. Please mail to: Community Foundation of Greater Flint, 500 S. Saginaw St. Suite 200, Flint, MI 48502.