Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp. (GRDC) will be among the new borrowers from 2007 honored at tomorrow's Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon.

Today the organization was featured on Model D Media, and we wanted to share the news with our readers:

Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp. is one of five community development corporations from around the nation that has been selected to participate in a national retail attraction training program.

The Retail Attraction and Dealmaking Applied Training, as it is called, is co-sponsored by Local Initiative Support Organization's Commercial Markets Advisory Service and the International Council of Shopping Centers, or ICSC.

The program is comprised of three learning opportunities:

• Web-based training sessions;
• The services of a retail marketing consultant to help develop a neighborhood business attraction marketing strategy; and
• The assignment of a local mentor that is a real estate professional and a member of ICSC.

According to their website, GRDC works to preserve and revitalize the Grandmont Rosedale communities of northwest Detroit. They are a non-profit organization formed and operated by neighborhood residents who care about our community and want to see it maintained as a great place to live and do business.

The organization seems to be on a role lately, as it was named CDC of the Year at the annual Community Development Awards luncheon hosted by LISC and Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD) in Detroit last September.

To learn more about GRDC, be sure to visit their website at grdc.org.

Model D Media has a nice update on the Mexicantown Mercado on their website this week. In case you missed it, this is a project we funded and wrote about last year.

Here's the latest news on how things are going with the Mercado:

Residents of Southwest Detroit now have a lovely spot at which to sip a latte -- or better yet, a Mexican hot chocolate: Cafe con Leche is open for business at the Mexicantown Mercado.

The coffee shop is bright and airy with comfortable seating. All the usual suspects are available on the drink menu, but there are some pleasant additions -- for example, strong, sweet Cuban coffee and champurrado, a hot drink made with corn flour, milk and chocolate. "We're trying to introduce a Latin flavor," says proprietor Jordi Carbonell.

The Mercado is a great project that we were proud to support through our economic development loan program, so it's great to see that it's bringing in new businesses and creating jobs in Detroit.

For more background on the Mexicantown International Welcome Center & Mercado, check out their website at mexicantown.org.

We've written about the Williamston Theatre numerous times here on the blog, so we wanted to make sure folks heard about this news:

LANSING — The city of Williamston and the Williamston Theatre Project have received nearly $30,000 in grants from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), according to an announcement released by the office of State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga).

The city of Williamston received a $16,900 grant from the MCACA, which it will use to upgrade theatrical sound and lighting capabilities, replace a portion of the roof, repair and reconfigure the shop area and install new water heaters at the Williamston Theater. The Williamston Theatre Project received a $12,300 grant it will use to create and present a new theatrical piece: "Maidens, Mothers and Crones: Voices from Women of the Midwest." There will be 20 performances of the piece over four weeks.

Congratulations to all the folks at the Williamston Theatre, and best of luck with the new production!

With snow and ice in the forecast again, we're all prone to grumbling about Michigan's wintry conditions. But for Michigan's homeless population, cold temperatures can be a matter of life and death:

Doris McQueen's 7-month-old daughter, Myisha McQueen, cozily sleeps in the arms of her mother, far from the blasts of cold winter winds outside.

The Saginaw mother and daughter are residents at the Family Empowerment Center, an emergency shelter at the Saginaw Rescue Mission, 1021 Burt.

"I don't have to worry about being put out in the cold. The mission has made an impact on me and my daughter because we have a safe place to stay, and I'm learning how to become independent," McQueen said.

The homeless population is surging at shelters and a soup kitchen as winter tightens its icy grip.

"We receive referrals from churches, law enforcement agencies and bus stations. We don't turn anyone away," said Kimberly Ancel, the mission's director of development. "The number will stay higher because of the cold weather. We're always prepared for whatever comes our way."

Restoration Community Outreach has had a surge in enrollment because of the frigid weather. The center at 1205 Norman in Saginaw provides shelter and support for the homeless.

The facility reached its capacity of 70 residents, forcing staff to refer people to other shelters, said Roma Thurin, executive director for Restoration Community Outreach.

"In the summertime, we average around 20 people that stay with us. Now we have to turn two to three people away a night because we're at capacity," she said. "Most of the men are coming in earlier in the day to check in because it's so cold."

Restoration Community Outreach is a current Trust Fund borrower, and while it's unfortunate that their shelter has already reached capacity, it's encouraging to see that one of our partners is making a difference in the lives of Michigan's homeless population.

To learn more about what you can do to help fight homelessness this winter, visit the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness.

The Williamston Theatre, a current Trust Fund borrower, is in the middle of rehearsals for their upcoming production of Art, winner of the 1998 Tony Award for best original play. Here are the details on the upcoming production from a recent press release:

This production will begin with five Preview performances starting Thursday, January 24. During the first four Previews audience memberswill have the opportunity to take part in the process of creating a show by participating in a talkback session with the director following each performance. The Official Opening Night is Friday, February 1 with the show scheduled to run through Sunday, February 17. Performances will run Thursday and Friday evenings at eight o'clock, Saturday matinees at three o'clock and evenings at eight o'clock, and Sunday matinees at two o'clock. Please note there will not be a three o'clock performance on Saturday, January 26.

How much would you pay for a white painting? Would it matter who the painter was? Would it be art? Serge has just bought a very expensive painting. Marc thinks the painting is a joke, but Serge insists Marc doesn't have the proper standard to judge the work. Much to his dismay, Yvan allows himself to be pulled into the disagreement. See what happens when the meaning of art and friendship collide in this award winning comedy.

Coincidentally, I actually saw the Broadway production of Art back in 1999, featuring Wayne Knight (Seinfeld), George Segal (Just Shoot Me!), and Buck Henry (SNL). The play is hysterically funny, so I'm anxious to see the Williamston Theatre's version of the show next month.

Tony Caselli, the play's Artistic Director, has a rehearsal blog that's being updated pretty regularly and is worth checking out. It's pretty neat that you can peak in every once in a while to keep tabs on how rehearsals are coming along.

As we've been saying for a while, a thriving arts community is a crucial element to Michigan's economic recovery. That's why we're so excited to support such a great project like the Williamston Theatre.

To learn more about the show, visit williamstontheatre.org.

In yesterday's post about how the art community can help spur economic growth, we mentioned the Trust Fund's connection to the Williamston Theatre. Coincidentally, this same project was also featured on the Capital Gains blog yesterday. Here are a few excerpts from the piece:

“I went to L.A., and I think a lot of people go away, and see what it’s all about. Because you almost can’t be happy unless you go and see what’s going on there,” says Lepard. “So when our young talent goes away, I want them to be able to come back and have a home here, and be able to stay and do what they do.”

Lepard is back to stay, and is working to build just such a place as the founder and executive director of Williamston Theatre, an upstart venture now in its second season.

“Williamston today is much like Chelsea was before Purple Rose—a charming small town,” he says. “We saw that everything is here to make this place into the kind of spot that Chelsea is. All we need now is a ‘movie star,” he grins—a reference to Daniels, patron saint of PRTC.

When the group left the coffee shop, Lepard recalls, they knew what they needed. “The first thing was a theatre,” he wryly notes. “But when the downtown antiques market pretty much disappeared, there was space available. And thanks to Steve Zynda of Midwest Homes we have our building—122 S. Putnam—for five years for $1 a year. That was the breakthrough.”

With that commitment, the community rallied around the effort. Mayor Ken Zichi and others in Williamston city government understood the theater was a key to their downtown revitalization strategy.

The team invested over $13,000 in a new façade, with support from the Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund. Additional investments in interior remodeling were done for another $20,000, thanks to generous contributions of time, lumber, seats, and lights.

Go check out the whole article when you get a chance.

We just wanted to take a moment to give a nod to the folks at Capital Gains for doing such a great job of highlighting stories like this, which so often get overlooked by more traditional publications.

We're proud of the work our borrowers are doing to help rejuvenate different areas across the state, and it's always nice to see that their efforts are getting the attention they deserve.

The Williamston Theatre is located in the heart of historic downtown Williamston, just one-half block south of the main Four Corners intersection of Grand River Avenue (M-43) and Putnam Street and two miles north of the I-96 exit 117 interchange. For more information about the Williamston Theatre, be sure to visit williamstontheatre.org.

Model D Media has a nice little feature up this week about Mexicantown Mercado, which is a project the Trust Fund helped make a reality through our economic development loan program.

Here are the highlights from the story:

Six months after opening, the 13,000-square-foot Mexicantown Mercado has already begun to fulfill its promise as a culture and business incubator.

Two of the current Mercado tenants are jewelry stores. The Jewelry Center sells silver and gold from Mexico, Italy and Los Angeles and Maya's Jewelry features silver mined from Guanajuato, Mexico.

Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, the developer and manager of the Mercado, is currently negotiating with another potential tenant that would collaborate with the organization in selling Mexican imports.

Another space will be reserved as the GM Gallery, featuring rotating exhibits that will help draw visitors to the Mercado. There is also space designed for a restaurant.

This leaves space for five additional vendors -- one of the spaces is 700 square feet and four are 320. The larger leases for $1,200 per month and the smaller, $710. Interested entrepreneurs should contact Myrna Segura, the manager of the business incubator, at 313-967-9898.

It's always great to see former borrowers like Mexicantown CDC doing such great work throughout the state. The organization was formed in 1989, and its goals and programs include:

1) Promotion of the Mexicantown restaurant, shopping, and cultural district to audiences across southeastern Michigan;

2) Cultural programs and activities that educate and enrich the lives of residents of the neighborhood and the southeast Michigan region;

3) Physical improvements and maintenance in the Mexicantown district - including parks and streetscapes;

4) Entrepreneurial training and incubation to increase the economic self-sufficiency of neighborhood residents

5) Reuse of vacant land and development of the Mexicantown International Welcome Center and Mercado.

We wish everyone at Mexicantown CDC luck with the Mercado project, and look forward to collaborating with them in the future.

We've written about our work with the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit numerous times, but it's still nice to see them featured on other websites.

From "Our Michigan":

Grace McClelland, Executive Director of the Ruth Ellis Center, says we are in the midst of an epidemic of LGBT homelessness. "The estimated number of homeless youth not receiving shelter services in Detroit on any given day ranges from 1,600 to 2,000. Of those, 640-800 homeless LGBT youth are on the streets of Detroit every day, according to a recent report by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, titled "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness."

The Ruth Ellis Center, created in 1999, provides short-term and long-term residential safe space and support services for runaway, homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth in Detroit and southeastern Michigan. It is one of only four agencies in the nation that specifically focus on the needs of LGBT youth and it is the largest youth drop-in center in the country, straight, gay or otherwise, says McClelland.

If you get a chance, be sure to check out the entire post.

The Trust Fund has been a proud supporter of the Ruth Ellis Center since 2002. You can learn more about Ruth Ellis Center by visiting the organization's website, and reading this article from "Between the Lines." Also, for a little background on Ruth Ellis, the woman, take a look at this Wikipedia page.

We have some new pictures from Ruth Ellis Center (REC) to share! You can check out the updated photo slideshow here.

Here's a little background info for those who aren't familiar with REC. Be sure to check out the complete article about our loan to RCE from last July's Community Quarterly Newsletter (PDF):

Since opening in 1999, REC has established over 10,000 street contacts, served more than 12,000 meals, and handled over 5,000 phone calls for help and referrals.

With a loan from the Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund in 2002, Ruth Ellis Center was able to acquire and rehabilitate a side-by-side duplex at 612/616 East Philadelphia in Detroit. Ruth’s House, named in honor of Ruth Ellis, a woman who opened her home to Detroit’s GLBTQ youth, hosts nine GLBTQ teens and young adults with a complement of four full-time staff. The intention is to offer teens and young adults the necessary skills to live independently. These young adults typically have a multitude of developmental issues, but with the guidance of REC’s developmental and progressively designed program, are able to successfully transition into self-sufficiency.

You can learn more about Ruth Ellis Center by visiting the organization's website, and reading this article from last week's edition of Between the Lines. Also, for a little background on Ruth Ellis, the woman, take a look at this Wikipedia page.

Over the years, the Trust Fund has financed several projects for Homestretch Housing, "a regional housing development organization that serves the counties of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau."

Like many of our borrowers...

HomeStretch is faced with the daunting challenge of providing quality, attractive, low- cost housing for a growing population of low-income families. Area wages are not keeping pace with rapidly rising real estate costs, making it very difficult for the region’s working families to afford adequate housing.

A lack of low-cost housing in local communities results in negative economic and social impacts, including labor shortages, high absenteeism, urban sprawl, financial hardships for working families, and increased homelessness.

To increase and maintain the capacity of affordable housing in Northwest Michigan, HomeStretch established a Community Land Trust (CLT). CLTs have a goal of establishing permanent stewardship of land that benefits the community, perpetuating the affordability of housing on that land. The model opens the door to homeownership for lower income individuals through long-term (usually 99-year), renewable ground leases. Essentially, the lessee leases the land but owns and holds the deed to their home.

The CLT housing model is relatively straightforward. Once HomeStretch—or another partner organization, such as Benzie Housing Council—builds or acquires a home, it is appraised and sold to a qualified buyer, who leases the land from the CLT. The homeowner then receives ongoing post-purchase financial, maintenance, and community education, which helps cultivate a community of responsible homeownership. Later, when the homeowner is ready to sell, the property is re-appraised and sold with a share of the house’s increased value given to the homeowner. HomeStretch purchases the property to ensure future affordability, and then resells it to a low income family.

The homebuyer benefits of the CLT model include: low purchase price, low down payment (usually 1% of the purchase price), federal income tax deductions, 100% return on equity, shared return on appreciation, and it is transferable to heirs. Similarly, the community benefits because the CLT preserves public investment and permanent affordability, promotes homeownership, improves neighborhoods, ensures responsible use, and diversifies housing choices.

Phase I of the Kensington Park East Townhouses was completed in 2005, and Phase II was finished a year later. These affordable, 1100 square foot units include three bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathrooms, an open living/dining area, a full basement, attached garage, and a patio which faces a wooded backyard. Development financing for the project was provided by The Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund, National City Community Development Corporation, Fifth Third Bank, Great Lakes Capital Fund and HomeStretch.

On June 6, the Trust Fund will honor HomeStretch at our Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon for closing one new loan, and successfully paying off another, in 2006. We've been proud supporters of HomeStretch's innovative work in Northwest Michigan for many years, and from the looks of it, we'll be honoring them at our annual luncheons for many years to come.

To learn more about HomeStretch, be sure to visit their website. This post references a newsletter article from last April, which you can read here. Photos originally came from the HomeStretch website.

Yesterday afternoon, our Director of Lending, Wendy Landes Hatem, closed Dawn Farm's fifth loan with the Trust Fund.

Last fall, Dawn's President, Jim Balmer, spoke at our Evening for Economic Justice, and gave a wonderful presentation about the organization he's been involved with since it began in 1973. Mr. Balmer will again be recognized by the Trust Fund on June 6 at our Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon, after Dawn Farm successfully paid off two loans in full and on-time last year.

Here's a little background history on Dawn Farm:

Dawn Farm began in 1973 using the combined incomes of the two founders, Gary Archie and Jack Scholtus. Using the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and some borrowed ideas from a residential program in Quebec, they rented the Farm on Stoney Creek Road.

The goal of Dawn Farm is to assist addicts and alcoholics in achieving long term recovery.

Dawn Farm will identify and remove barriers that prevent addicts and alcoholics from joining the recovering community.

Dawn Farm offers a variety of programs to assist with long term recovery. The Chapin Street Project is a transitional housing program for recovering alcoholics and addicts that the Trust Fund made a loan to in 2001:

Chronic, homeless alcoholics and addicts have historically been untreated in the Ann Arbor community. Existing sheltering options seldom require that homeless clients engage in treatment for their addictions. Chapin Street offers a recovery-based solution —to help individuals find lasting self sufficiency.

The Chapin Street Project has now helped more than 600 men and women find independence through its unique and effective transitional housing program.

115 people entered our houses or apartments in 2004-using this safe and affordable housing as a support to finding a job and becoming responsible citizens.

Dawn Farm has been "providing Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti, Michigan with affordable, high quality alcoholism and drug addiction treatment since 1973," and the Trust Fund is proud to support their important work.

You can learn more about Dawn Farm by visiting their website, and view pictures from a few of the projects funded by our loans here. Also, be sure to check out Dawn Farm's blog!

Starting today, we're going to be featuring Trust Fund success stories here on the blog as part of an ongoing series, and we wanted to kick things off with an old favorite.

The Trust Fund featured the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit in our Community Quarterly Newsletter back in July 2005. Here's a quick refresher about this innovative organization:

The idea of the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit was conceived when a city planner recognized the waste that was being generated from these demolitions. While many structures in their entirety may not be suitable for renovation, these buildings contain Detroit’s history.

The Salvage Warehouse has responded by devising an alternative plan called deconstruction, which involves the removal of historic and reusable building materials from a building before it is demolished. Similar deconstruction strategies are taking root across the country in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh as a popular alternative to demolition.

ASWD's unique work has been featured in several publications over the last two years. TheDetroiter.com profiled the organization and its President, Carolyn Mosher, on its website last summer:

Just one year ago the original warehouse opened for business and began the process of deconstruction, the planned and systematic disassembly of buildings, which allows component parts and pieces to be removed without damaging them, so that they may be reused, and where this is not possible, they skim, which is the removal of more easily obtained materials like doors, hardware, and light fixtures. Since then they've fully deconstructed 7 houses, skimmed many more, and kept 350 tons (!) of materials out of the landfill much of it lumber. ASWD has created 12 jobs, training these workers in deconstruction, and done $175,000 in sales. And just recently, they doubled their space, moving into a second warehouse adjoining their 4885 15th Street location. Additionally they provide customers with authentic materials otherwise unavailable, and young people can get decent stuff at a great price.

Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett did a feature for WKAR Radio on an ASWD deconstruction project in suburban Chicago back in October 2005:

As Michigan Public Radio's Sarah Hulett reports, the group plans to painstakingly deconstruct a home in suburban Chicago and use the materials to build a new house in Detroit -- a house designed by students from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Architecture.

Ms. Hulett's excellent piece can be downloaded here (Note: Real Player is available as a free download).

Last summer, an ASWD fundraiser was hosted at the 4731 and 555 Galleries on Grand River Ave. in Detroit. Real Detroit Weekly wrote about the event back in June:

For this project, ASWD donated salvaged doors and local artists used them as their canvases — the creations range from colorful, to whimsical, to scenic and serene. “They’re amazing. They’re so different from each other. One artist carved into the door so it’s now a giant wood block. One made hers into a table — it’s really cool. One artist made a finish on the door that looks like it was fired in a Raku oven — it’s absolutely gorgeous,” project curator Anne Fracassa said.

“It was our first complete year of business and I wanted a celebration in the neighborhood for two other nonprofits that are struggling to make it and thrive,” ASWD’s Carolyn Mosher said, talking about 4731 Gallery and 555 Gallery. “I like the collaboration with two other organizations and think the doors are symbolic of our opening our new space — it’s kind of a birthday party that the whole community can enjoy, and a reverence for the found object.”

The Trust Fund is extremely proud of the amazing work and community leadership exhibited by ASWD. After closing another loan with the Trust Fund during 2006, ASWD will be among those honored at this year's Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon on June 6 in Lansing.

To learn more about ASWD, be sure to visit their website. You can also see more pictures of ASWD's facility in Detroit here.

Remember, your investments and donations make the Trust Fund's loans to organizations like ASWD possible. We appreciate your continued support!