Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational Launches Community Grant Program to Fund Collaborative Sustainability Initiatives

MIDLAND, MI – The Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (Dow GLBI) today announced the creation of the Collaborating for Sustainability Community Grant, a competitive grant program for businesses and organizations aimed at helping fund collaborative sustainability initiatives in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The announcement was made at the third annual Dow GLBI Sustainability Summit.

The Dow GLBI Collaborating for Sustainability Community Grant will provide up to $20,000 in seed money for joint projects aimed at improving environmental, social and/or economic conditions in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region.

“Through past Sustainability Summits, we know our area businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and local governmental entities are committed to working together to advance sustainability in our home region,” said Chris Chandler, executive director of the Dow GLBI. “We’ve already seen great progress and commitment through the Great Lakes Bay Region Sustainability Pledge. This grant will help encourage collaboration and provide resources to jump-start innovative approaches to advancing sustainability in our region.”

Applications for the grant must be submitted by two or more organizations with the intent to jointly support the development of a project that will help advance sustainability in any of the following categories: biodiversity and ecology, built environment, clean energy, climate and resiliency, food systems and security, waste and circular solutions, and soil and water.

“We are excited about how this grant program can be a catalyst to creating practices and partnerships that could advance climate leadership, a circular economy and other sustainable initiatives in the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Andre Argenton, Dow chief sustainability officer and vice president of Environment, Health and Safety. “By drawing on creativity and innovation, we have the opportunity to build the long-term success of our region and reduce our impact on the natural world.”

Since its launch in 2019, the Dow GLBI Sustainability Summit has been a forum for area businesses, educational institutions and non-profit organizations to drive adoption of sustainable practices within the Great Lakes Bay Region. Through the summit, a Regional Sustainability Coalition was created and launched the Great Lakes Bay Regional Sustainability Pledge, which is a framework to assist organizations who want to make sustainability a central objective of their values, actions and overall strategy.

“This new grant program provides a vital next step in identifying pathways to amplify sustainability in the region,” said Dennis Pilaske, executive director of Chippewa Nature Center.

For more information about the grant program, including how to apply, contact Dennis Pilaske at dpilaske@chippewanaturecenter.org.