Rotary Charities of Traverse City is awarding $340,000 to five regional nonprofits and partnerships as part of its spring 2023 grant cycle. The grants included:
 
District Health Department #10/ Northwest Michigan Community Health Innovation Region 
Harnessing Systems Change for Improved Health Equity in Northwest Michigan — $150,000 Systems Change Accelerator grant 
In continuation of its work to address health inequities in Northwest Michigan, this initiative of the Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR) builds upon a growing body of work that focuses on increasing health equity among rural populations. The initiative, a collaboration between the CHIR, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, and Munson Healthcare,  seeks to mitigate the impact of the most pressing factors contributing to health inequities, such as health systems barriers, attitudes and beliefs, food insecurity, housing options and more by strengthening collective health equity efforts, enhancing coordination across sectors, and supporting capacity building at the organizational and community levels. 

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians 
Fish Waste Processing Facility — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant 
Aligned with the Grand Traverse Band’s commitment to long-term food sovereignty and its dedication to traditional agricultural practices, this grant funding will support the purchase of equipment essential to the operation of a fish waste processing facility, including an industrial grinder unit and a snow plow for year-round access to the facility. As part of developing agricultural programming, the project aims to address two needs: diverting organic waste from landfills, and producing a culturally significant organic fertilizer product that will be used in farm operations at the Peshawbestown Gitigaan. 

Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance 
NoBo Mrkt Food Incubator Pilot Program — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant
In an effort to foster a vibrant startup food culture and enhance entrepreneurship success in the Grand Traverse region, the Grand Traverse Foodshed Alliance (GTFA) will establish a tailored incubator program to address the unique needs of our community, leveraging the expertise of Build Institute in supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs. The grant will enable GTFA to launch the NoBo Mrkt initiative at Commongrounds in Traverse City, which will bridge gaps in community support for food service entrepreneurs and create opportunities for economic growth in our region.

Memorial Park Pickleball Association 
Green Lake Township Memorial Park Revitalization — $40,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant
To fulfill the community's demand for a safe and inclusive outdoor fitness space, four new pickleball courts will be constructed at Green Lake Township Memorial Park. Led by the Memorial Park Pickleball Association (MPPA) in collaboration with Green Lake Township, this community-driven project aims to promote engagement, outdoor recreation, and social interaction among community members of all ages and abilities through pickleball. The project aligns with Green Lake Township's 2017 Master Plan, which emphasizes the creation of recreational facilities to foster healthy lifestyles and provide access to natural areas, and represents a significant milestone in the ongoing revitalization of Memorial Park.  

Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc. 
Traverse City West Middle School Adolescent Health Center — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant 
With a mission to deliver quality healthcare services with dignity and compassion, Northwest Michigan Health Services will expand its services to meet the evolving needs of the community by opening an Adolescent Health Center at Traverse City West Middle School. The health center, which will serve all Traverse City Area Public Schools students up to age 21 and their children, by providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services regardless of ability to pay, aims to address health risk behaviors, provide medical and mental health care, and promote healthier lifestyles among the student population.