Southeast Michigan to Receive $1.6 Million in Conservation Grants

Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund partners announced seven projects selected to receive $1.6 million in grant funding to benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan.

The grants were awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and will leverage $1.4 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of more than $3 million, reported the press release.

These investments include: installing green infrastructure, increasing urban tree canopy, and restoring riverbank and floodplain habitat, reported the press release. The projects will also restore critical habitat for wildlife and improve water quality.

“This public-private partnership is committed to investing in projects that deliver multiple benefits for the people and wildlife that call southeast Michigan home,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF in the press release. “The grants awarded today represent the third year of investments made by the Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund and demonstrate the Fund’s ability to deliver ecological and community resilience benefits at a regional level.”

Some of the projects supported by these grants will:

Add 3.3 million gallons of storm water storage
Plant more than 650 trees for increased storm water storage and improved habitat
Add 44 instream habitat structures
Help restore the quality and connectivity of the region’s habitats
Improve quality of life for residents by increasing public access to natural areas and parks for local communities through six new access points

Seven corporate, foundation and government funding partners joined NFWF to create the Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund, according to the press release.

Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund 2021 grant recipients include: