Portage Health Foundation Supports Community Health Projects

[Hancock, MI] The Portage Health Foundation (PHF) released their first of three Community Recreational Facilities and Resources RFP this past January. The intention of these grants was to support projects that will have an impact on community health and wellness while addressing the systemic health needs and risk factors of the broader community. Further, it was hoped and desired that proposals seeking funding will have identified key components to support sustainability and/or systems change to ensure ongoing delivery of services to meet community need.

This call for proposals specifically addressed PHF’s Community Health pillar. Community Health grants provide support for activities or opportunities that promote healthy lifestyles which improve the overall health of a community. A total of $97,600 was awarded in this round of funding supporting initiatives across the four-county community.

Grant recipients included the Swedetown Trails Club, Greenland Township, City of Hancock, Keweenaw Community Foundation, and the Portage Lake Multi-Educational Services Inc. These recipients were awarded monies that helped develop trail systems, park and recreational facilities, and were used as support for matching monies for DNR grants.

Grant Projects Overview
Swedetown Trails will use funding for trail expansion and creating more access for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.

Portage Lake Multi-Educational Inc’s program was to support the efforts at the Houghton County Arena which will help fund a new ammonia ice plant, replacing their R22 Freon system.

The Terrace Park Improvement project by the City of Hancock supported updating equipment and a new playground. This effort is working to help provide the community with healthy, safe activities for families and people of all ages to participate.

The Houghton Skate Park has been an ongoing fundraising effort in the community to develop and implement a skate park in Houghton. PHF funded their project to complete their fundraising efforts and begin construction this coming summer.

The final project was awarded to Greenland Township which also used PHF funds to leverage outside monies from the DNR. This project supported the implementation of a tow rope at Adventure Mountain.

The PHF has allocated $100,000 each year for the next two years to support Recreational grants such as these. They are invested in seeing the community become a place where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

To learn more about PHF or other funding opportunities, visit their website at PHFGIVE.ORG