Crowdfunding campaign launched for the ‘1550 Community Center’

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC and MSHDA’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

Lansing, Mich. – A former church on Taylor Street in Central Detroit will soon be transformed into a community center for the surrounding neighborhoods with the help of a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. 

“Renovation of 1550 Taylor space and the creation of the community center will result in an asset to the community for youth and adults, bringing resources to community members that were previously not accessible,” said MEDC Executive Vice President Greg Tedder. “Public Spaces Community Places is a great resource for communities to help turn vision into reality.” 

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by Sept 23, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MSHDA and MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: www.Patronicity.com/1550Taylor. 

“The surrounding neighborhood would benefit greatly from the proposed redevelopment of 1550 Taylor,” MSHDA Executive Director Kevin Elsenheimer said. “This space has the potential to inspire meaningful community-led collaboration by bringing together the diversity of the area to boost local access to important programs and services.” 

After purchasing the building and installing new windows, doors and a roof, the CDC is looking to continue redevelopment of the space to create a multipurpose building for the neighborhood and families to engage with. This space will house their youth and family programing, a community meeting space, office space for administration, a gymnasium, and medical clinic. There are future development plans also in the works to allow for this space to have a continued growing impact on the surrounding community. 

“We are so excited for this wonderful opportunity provided by Patronicity and the State of Michigan. Join us in making an area once vacant and abandoned become vibrant and alive again. We want to take the building and the block it sits on and have it be a place where children play and senior citizens can relax,” said CDC Executive Director Lisa Johanon. “That’s a picture we can get excited about.” 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, MSHDA, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan. 

Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan.  These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.