Empowering Local Ideas. Building Stronger Communities.
We help communities build resilience by elevating local voices and bringing good ideas to life.
The Challenge
Many communities—especially small, rural, and under-resourced places—have strong ideas and dedicated people, but lack the time, funding pathways, coordination, or technical support to move their priorities forward. Local leaders often carry the work alone, volunteers burn out, and promising projects stall because there’s no structured help to turn vision into action.
Communities thrive when they can act on their own ideas—our work helps make that possible.
Media & Events
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2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference
June 9-11, 2025
2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference
Celebrate 20 Years of Rural Michigan Prosperity at the 2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference!
Join us at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, MI from June 9-11, 2025. We will be participating in the Consumers Energy "Put Your Town on the Map" Pitch Competition with the Voices of Manistee storytelling project.
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Local 'Voices' project is finalist in Consumers Energy pitch competition
Manistee News Advocate | April 24, 2025
The “Voices of Manistee” storytelling project has been named one of 10 finalists in the Consumers Energy Foundation’s Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, which will provide a total of $50,000 in grants to three winning proposals…
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Manistee’s ‘Voices’ project wins $10K in statewide competition
Manistee News Advocate | June 23, 2025
A local storytelling project aimed at amplifying community voices has earned Manistee a $10,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation. The “Voices of Manistee” initiative was named one of three winners in the 2025 Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, which awarded a total of $50,000 to support projects in small Michigan communities.
Contact Us
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