The Schoolcraft Conservation District (SCD) is very excited to announce the 2025 Community Grants Program. Grants are available to the public for conservation related projects to be implemented in Schoolcraft County. SCD is anticipating awarding up to $5,000 total to 5-7 projects across Schoolcraft County. Grants will range between $800 and $1,000 each. SCD seeks proposals for a variety of projects that have a direct impact to the improvement of our natural resources through hands on educational programs or projects that directly impact the environment.
Prior to completing your application form, please review the criteria for the grant program as well as the summary of the follow-up procedures and Final Project Report required of all recipients of a Community Grant. Please review this information carefully as it may prove valuable when designing your project and submitting your application. In particular, please note the deadlines and signatures required for the application. Improperly complete or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. Each applicant may request up to $1,000 in support, but SCD reserves the right to reduce the amount requested if it deems the project cost isn’t justified.
The application deadline is Friday, April 4th, 2025 at 4:00 pm. Late applications will not be accepted. Applications can be submitted through e-mail or dropped off in our office. All applicants will be notified if they are or are not recipients of an award no later than April 18, 2025. Awardees will receive their funds at the start of the project period and must have all funds spent by November 30, 2025. If you have any further questions pertaining to the grant application process, or would like advice or help planning your project, please email SCD District Manager, Ashley Reitter at [email protected] or call the office 906-286-2890.
Click on the buttons below to open the application and budget.
Good luck and thank you for your interest in the Community Grant Program!
Prior to completing your application form, please review the criteria for the grant program as well as the summary of the follow-up procedures and Final Project Report required of all recipients of a Community Grant. Please review this information carefully as it may prove valuable when designing your project and submitting your application. In particular, please note the deadlines and signatures required for the application. Improperly complete or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. Each applicant may request up to $1,000 in support, but SCD reserves the right to reduce the amount requested if it deems the project cost isn’t justified.
The application deadline is Friday, April 4th, 2025 at 4:00 pm. Late applications will not be accepted. Applications can be submitted through e-mail or dropped off in our office. All applicants will be notified if they are or are not recipients of an award no later than April 18, 2025. Awardees will receive their funds at the start of the project period and must have all funds spent by November 30, 2025. If you have any further questions pertaining to the grant application process, or would like advice or help planning your project, please email SCD District Manager, Ashley Reitter at [email protected] or call the office 906-286-2890.
Click on the buttons below to open the application and budget.
Good luck and thank you for your interest in the Community Grant Program!
Former Grant Recipients
2024
Climate-Resilient Native Habitat
The goal of this project was to create a vigorous and climate-resilient native plantscape with a focus on plants that function as at least one of the following: nitrogen fixers; dynamic accumulators of scarce minerals and nutrients; and prolific pollinator food sources for Lepidoptera, native bees, and hummingbirds. While this project is still ongoing, 14 different species have been planted so far, which will collectively bloom from early spring to the end of the fall growing season. All these species with the exception of one grass are of strategic value for pollinators. As the project continues being implemented, species that offer self-renewing fertility will be the next focus.
Another ongoing component of this project will be education. The grant recipients, the founders of modernselfreliance.com, plan to use their experience working on this native plantscape to teach others how to establish similar areas on their own land. The hope is that establishing a vibrant, ecosystem-enhancing plantscape in a site representative of local conditions will empower anyone to achieve the same result regardless of their site.
Another ongoing component of this project will be education. The grant recipients, the founders of modernselfreliance.com, plan to use their experience working on this native plantscape to teach others how to establish similar areas on their own land. The hope is that establishing a vibrant, ecosystem-enhancing plantscape in a site representative of local conditions will empower anyone to achieve the same result regardless of their site.
Manistique Community Garden Development
After leveraging their 2023 Community Grant funds to establish the Manistique Community Garden, the garden's committee applied for a second 2024 grant to continue development on this new community asset. Their 2024 grant was used to construct a formal sign at the garden's entrance; construct an information kiosk that will be used to distribute information, post relevant news, and share gardening tips and tricks; and put in two new native plant areas.
2023
Manistique Community Garden
Spearheaded by the GFWC Manistique Women’s Club, planning began in the early spring of 2023 to transform a vacant city lot into a community garden. The goal was to provide a space where residents could grow their own food, discover a sense of community, engage in physical activity, and enjoy the outdoors. Other organizations soon became involved in the planning and idea sharing, including 4-H, the Girl Scouts and Scout, and the Kiwanis Builders Club; in partnership with the Women’s Club, these groups formed the Manistique Community Garden Group (MCGG).
With funding from an SCD Community Grant and the support of other donors, building began in May. Volunteers worked hard to erect a fence around the garden border, spread wood chips, and—most importantly—construct beds. 60 beds were made in total: 48 standard-sized, eight with an elevated height to accommodate persons with mobility challenges, and four wheelchair accessible. With the further support of the SCD, a composting bin was also installed and several fruit trees planted. The garden opened to the public in early June.
30 beds were rented out during the first planting season. Among these were multiple beds reserved by the Senior Citizen’s Center. During field trips to their beds, with the help of aids, these seniors were able to get activity outdoors and light exercise as they planted and grew foods they shared at the center and even used in their October Potluck meals. A portion of unreserved beds were used to grow food for the local food pantry. We are proud to have played a role in bringing this project to fruition and hope to continue to be able to offer our support and partnership in years to come.
With funding from an SCD Community Grant and the support of other donors, building began in May. Volunteers worked hard to erect a fence around the garden border, spread wood chips, and—most importantly—construct beds. 60 beds were made in total: 48 standard-sized, eight with an elevated height to accommodate persons with mobility challenges, and four wheelchair accessible. With the further support of the SCD, a composting bin was also installed and several fruit trees planted. The garden opened to the public in early June.
30 beds were rented out during the first planting season. Among these were multiple beds reserved by the Senior Citizen’s Center. During field trips to their beds, with the help of aids, these seniors were able to get activity outdoors and light exercise as they planted and grew foods they shared at the center and even used in their October Potluck meals. A portion of unreserved beds were used to grow food for the local food pantry. We are proud to have played a role in bringing this project to fruition and hope to continue to be able to offer our support and partnership in years to come.
Ross Lake Road Culvert Replacement
Beginning in the early summer of 2023, the Schoolcraft County Road Commission began construction on a new elliptical culvert on Ross Lake Road, near Ross Lake in northern Schoolcraft. Existing culverts in the area had long been deteriorating, leading to concerns over soil erosion due to water overrun and spring runoff, the viability of fish passage between Ross Lake and its adjacent stream, and road safety during times of wash out. Given that over $5,000 had been invested in maintaining those existing culverts, the situation was also becoming a financial drain on the community.
The new culvert, completed in August, features a larger flow area, natural bottom, and riprap armoring. In addition, the Road Commision installed two overflow pipes 50 feet north and south of the culvert to ensure maximum public safety in instances of extreme weather. These developments will work to control erosion and improve fish populations in the lake and stream for years to come.
The new culvert, completed in August, features a larger flow area, natural bottom, and riprap armoring. In addition, the Road Commision installed two overflow pipes 50 feet north and south of the culvert to ensure maximum public safety in instances of extreme weather. These developments will work to control erosion and improve fish populations in the lake and stream for years to come.