Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Federal Stimulus funds - let's be strategic!

April 30^th, 2009

Seems lately that each day is a "big news day" around the globe - the economy, swine flu, wars, politics and of course the ever interesting yet "what does it matter anyway" popular culture items featuring American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and Susan Boyle! Hard to compete with all that "news" so I won't even try. However, many good things are happening and more than what I can fit in one blog post so that means I need to kick myself into high gear and write more.

From the ArtPrize announcement last week . . . to the hugely successful "Good for Education" celebration that the Grand Rapids Community Foundation hosted last week that did NOT attract any discernable media attention in spite of all attempts . . . and more topics to cover in the coming weeks! Okay please someone find me the time!

Yesterday I attended a meeting at Grand Rapids Community College's M-Tec Center where Governor Jennifer Granholm was announcing Michigan's plans re: the American Recovery and Reinvestment funds - more commonly known as the federal stimulus dollars. Governor Granholm did not tout the funds as the panacea for the state but that certainly the money could help. She encouraged local governmental units and nonprofit entities to apply but to do their homework first. It was also noted that this is one-time only money thus must be used strategically given its short time horizon. I was pleased to hear her cautionary yet hopeful message that indeed the stimulus dollars can help in recovery efforts across the state,

The Governor acknowledged that the greater Grand Rapids area is known for its collaborative efforts and was calling for us to continue along these lines. I made a comment during her Q&A time period that GR is known for its collaboration and that this is strongly practiced and encouraged. However, that said I noted that we still suffer from poverty and all the many ills that this economy has wrought and to remember that Southeast Michigan is not the only place where people are suffering.

For readers of my blog, you know how I feel about collaboration when it makes sense particularly the Kent School Services Network, the foundations banding together to create a fund in concert with the Essential Needs Task Force and the Kent County Family and Children's Coordinating Council. This is the time to band together and make sure that there are many partners around the community table re: the spending of these precious federal dollars!