Crowdfunding campaign launched for Creston. After Dark project in Grand Rapids

$25,655 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – The Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids will come alive through a public murals and greening crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lions and Rabbits, and nonprofit Experience Live Art announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $25,655 by June 10, 2019, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/crestonafterdark.

“This campaign will activate the central business district in Creston and engage the community on many levels to get involved,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The campaign will allow Lions and Rabbits – in partnership with local nonprofit Experience Live Art – to kick off the effort by hosting a street party and neighborhood beautification project. The event will take place at the intersection of Leonard and Plainfield, which serves as a gateway into the Creston Neighborhood and North Quarter District. This campaign will activate the area through community beautification and public art, creation of artist jobs, and cleaning and greening initiatives.

“The benefits of the Public Spaces Community Places grant program seem to be too good to be true. This grant supports the foundations of our well-being,” said Creative Director of Lions and Rabbits Hannah Berry. “We’ll be able to create several safe and inclusive spaces, reward our community with a fun evening out, support the economic growth of an array of artists and local businesses within our district, and raise money for a trash maintenance program.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“Providing appealing public spaces is key to great placemaking,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “This mural project will accomplish that with the added benefit of employing local artists familiar with the community.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of May 1, 2019, MEDC has provided $6,375,441 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 204 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $7 million raised from 39,030 individual donors.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.