JACKSON,
Mich., April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Consumers Energy Foundation announced today it awarded $500,000 in grant funding to two organizations —
Muskegon County Parks Department and the Six Rivers Regional Land
Conservancy — for its 2024 Planet Awards. The two grants, each
totaling $250,000, will fund projects
in both organizations to restore area habitats to their natural
state and improve air and water quality in their respective
regions.
"The Consumers Energy Foundation is squarely focused on ensuring
Michiganders continue to have access to world class natural
resources," said Brandon Hofmeister,
president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. "This year's Planet
Award winners will not only to protect and preserve those resources
but restore ones that were otherwise considered lost. Their work
will have significant and long-term benefits for Muskegon and Macomb counties, and we look forward to seeing
their projects in action."
The two grant recipients are:
- Muskegon County Parks Department, Muskegon
- Grant funding supports the ecological restoration of Dune
Harbor Park, a 377-acre property that was previously a sand mine.
Restoration activities will include invasive species removal,
planting of native foliage, and the establishment of pollinator
habitat. Trail access enhancement, installation of interpretive
signage, and other improvements will foster environmental
stewardship and encourage the public to enjoy recreational
opportunities at the park.
- Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy, Macomb
- Grant funding supports the Monarch Meadows project which will
protect 64 acres of land near Selfridge Air Force Base and restore
over half of it to native meadow. Restoration activities will
include a tree planting program, invasive species removal, and
installation of native wildflower habitat to create a beautiful
natural area for residents and visitors to enjoy.
"I want to thank the Consumers Energy Foundation for selecting
the Dune Harbor Park Habitat Restoration and Community Engagement
Project to receive the 2024 Planet Award," said Muskegon County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth. "Creating sustainable, long
term recreation opportunities for residents and visitors will take
a community-wide commitment and collaborative efforts. This funding
will allow Muskegon County Parks to develop plans and implement
projects to restore the park's native landscapes and build
community engagement and educational programs for the future. We
look forward to the transformative impact ahead and are very
appreciative of the grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation, and
thank our parks team, Senior Park Ranger Kris Kluting and Parks Superintendent
Jeff Hiddema, for their work on this
once in a lifetime grant opportunity through the Consumers Planet
Award."
"We are so grateful for the Consumers Energy Foundation Planet
Award grant and to have Consumers as a partner in this fantastic
restoration project," said Chris
Bunch, Executive Director of the Six Rivers Regional Land
Conservancy. "Their investment will help to create critical
pollinator habitat, improve stream habitat and create a wonderful
natural area park for the people of Chesterfield Township and southeast
Michigan. We are extraordinarily grateful and excited to get
to work."
Each year the Consumers Energy Foundation provides Planet Awards
to Michigan nonprofits for
projects which will tangibly impact preservation and restoration of
Michigan's land, water and air.
The Planet Awards are the first of three-signature grant funding
opportunities, totaling $1.5 million,
that the Foundation provides each year.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm
of Consumers Energy, Michigan's
largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth
and strengthening of Michigan
communities by investing in what's most important — our
people, our planet and Michigan's
prosperity. In 2023, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers
Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than
$11 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more
information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
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SOURCE Consumers Energy