HCCF awarded $4,000 in grants from the Community Impact Fund in May to projects that re-imagine and re-invent public spaces through Placemaking. The projects were submitted by community members and voted on by the community, which was an important aspect according to HCCF Executive Director Mackenzie Price Sundblad. The four winning projects will bring new ideas to life in Caseville, Port Austin, Bad Axe, and Harbor Beach.

The public was able to vote on Facebook from May 6 through May 13, with some projects receiving over 300 votes. On May 16th, HCCF hosted their Placemaking Grant: Pitch Event at the Port Austin Gym, where representatives from each of the submitted projects had one minute to sell the audience and the panel of judges on why they deserved the $1,000 grant. Over 80 people from communities across the county heard pitches from the following groups and voted for their favorite in each region.

Projects presented included:
- Improvements to the Pigeon Events Center grounds
- Events at Memorial City Park in Caseville
- Games for use on the Port Austin Village Green
- A What’s Happening Port Austin Sign, outlining upcoming events
- Movies at the Beach in Harbor Beach
- Addition of Cemetery Markers at Rock Falls Cemetery
- Tree Planting on the Backus Trail in Harbor Beach
- Addition of Pickleball Courts in Bad Axe
- Project Positivity in Bad Axe High School
- StoryWalk Encouraging Literacy and Movement in Bad Axe City Park
- Miracle of Life Display at the Huron Community Fair
- Walking Loops of Historic Homes and Businesses in Ubly and Bad Axe

Western Region Winner: Market on Main in Caseville has had great success so far! Bringing vendors, performers, and entertainment for kids to downtown Caseville

There were four winners, one from each region, that received $1,000. Representing the Western Region, Memorial City Park in Caseville was awarded a grant to bring music, kids’ events, and have people gather in downtown Caseville throughout the summer. In the North Central region, Good Times on the Green received $1,000 to purchased outdoor games for public use at the Village Green in Port Austin. The Eastern region, Movies at the Beach won the grant to bring an outdoor movie theater to Harbor Beach. Finally, in the South Central Region, Bad Axe Public Schools Positive School Climate Committee was awarded $1,000 to adorn the hall of Bad Axe with “Project Positivity”.

Eastern Region Winner: Movies on the Beach had nearly 90 attend their first lakeside movie last month.

In addition to the 4 grants from the HCCF Community Impact Fund, an additional four other Placemaking Projects that were pitched at the event have come to life. “This was our goal with the event, to raise awareness of great projects and get the community involved in supporting these ideas” said Price Sundblad. A private donor contributed $1,000 to create a Middle School Library at Harbor Beach Community Schools. The Pickleball Association rallied their troops to privately fund and paint their courts in Bad Axe. The Harbor Beach Rotary Club is moving forward with their Tree Planting Project on the Backus Trail. The Huron Community Fair received funding for their Miracle of Life Display. Multiple other projects have community support and conversations are happening to get the funding they need to make those dreams a reality.

If you’d like to support projects like this in our community, consider a gift to the Community Impact Fund at HCCF.