Crowdfunding campaign launched for Vicksburg Nature Trailhead

$32,500 goal to win matching grant through MEDC & MSHDA’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

Lansing, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Vicksburg Downtown Development Authority today announced a new crowdfunding campaign through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. The campaign will support the project to create a new trailhead for the Vicksburg Nature Trail as part of the village’s placemaking efforts.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $32,500 by Tuesday Dec. 22, 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 here.

“Creating community connections like the trailhead has an impact measured beyond dollars and cents, as health and quality of life benefits make villages like Vicksburg an attractive place to live. We are proud to partner in this effort,” said MEDC Community Development Director Katharine Czarnecki. “Public Spaces Community Places is a great resource for communities to help turn vision into reality.”

”The Vicksburg Trailhead and other crowdgranting initiatives like it offer residents a creative way to engage in the place they call home,” said MSHDA Executive Director Kevin Elsenheimer. “The trailhead plan provides a safe and interactive gateway to the Vicksburg Recreational Trail and a welcoming stop for locals and visitors as they enter the downtown district.”

Vicksburg Nature Trailhead will be the entrance into the village’s downtown district as part of a 2.6 mile non-motorized nature trail. The project will fund property acquisition, site restoration, building of amenities for parking, bikes, benches, light poles, signage, and interpretive graphics about the history of Vicksburg. These final dollars matched through community crowdgranting with Patronicity & MEDC/MSHDA will make the project possible to begin construction in early 2016. 

“We are very excited about the prospect of working with community to raise funds for the Vicksburg Trailhead”, said Kathleen Hoyle, Vicksburg DDA Director. “The MEDC/MSHDA Crowdfunding program is a huge boost to our fundraising efforts and focuses on projects everyone can participate in making happen in the immediate future.”

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, non-profits 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.