Crowdfunding Campaigns Launch across Michigan to Create New Public Spaces

LANSING, Mich. – New public spaces across Michigan are being created with the support of the Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) crowdgranting program. Three new projects, including a downtown mural campaign, public fish cleaning station, and a community backyard for public events, will transform vacant or underused space for public use and enjoyment.  

These projects will be fulfilled through the anticipated success of crowdfunding campaigns that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Municipal League announced today, which are being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. If the campaigns reach their crowdfunding goals by the end of their campaign timeline, the projects will win a matching grant with funds made possible by the PSCP program. 

On Monday, June 1, the campaign to develop Petite Acres: Southwest Michigan's Backyard launched, which will allow the new gathering space to host year-round community events in New Buffalo. Led in partnership with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation and Petite Acres, the events will include weekly yoga on the Great Lawn, family-friendly movie nights under the stars, and quarterly networking breakfasts that bring neighbors, small business owners, and visitors together and, in time, may grow to include local markets featuring farmers, makers, and artists from across the region. The campaign will be open until July 31; you can learn more about this effort here: patronicity.com/PA.  

The Lake St Clair Fish Cleaning Station in Harrison Township also launched on Monday to create a public fish cleaning facility on Lake St. Clair at the Michigan DNR Clinton River Cutoff Boating Access Site. The nonprofit The Lake St. Clair Fish Cleaning Foundation is leading the campaign to create the first public fish cleaning station on Lake St. Clair which supports a high level of angling activity and harvest.

A creel survey shows that anglers fishing Lake St. Clair spent 540,779 hours and harvested 137,511 fish including 66,946 yellow perch and 42,620 walleyes. Angling intensity on Lake St. Clair far exceeds that of Lakes Huron, Superior and Michigan combined. The campaign will remain open until July 31; to learn more go to: patronicity.com/fish. 

Launching on Friday, June 5,  Public Art in Lowell: Muralocity will activate downtown Lowell with five public murals that tell Lowell’s story and add a bold creative identity to the riverfront town. The project is led by the nonprofit Lowell Arts who identified five sites that balance visibility, accessibility, and distribution across town. Muralocity is the first program of Lowell's Public Art Initiative, developed in partnership with Lowell's Downtown Development Authority, with initial support from the Lowell Area Community Foundation. Check it out at patronicity.com/muralocity before the campaign ends on July 31.

“Community recreation and public art are great examples of placemaking efforts that meet public demand and needs while creating more connected and vibrant communities at the same time,” said Paula Holtz, MEDC Managing Director for Regional Development. “We are proud to provide resources for these efforts through our Public Spaces Community Places program.” 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League and Patronicity, in which 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. 

“The Michigan Municipal League is a strong supporter of placemaking happening in Michigan’s communities,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the League. “From public art to gathering spaces, these projects will amplify the human experience and improve their communities for generations to come. This is what placemaking is truly all about.” 

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 June 1, 2026, the MEDC has provided more than $14.7 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 444 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $17 million raised from 77,667 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds. 

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.