Crowdfunding campaign launched for “Bagley Community Center” project in Detroit

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

LANSING, Mich. – Detroit’s Bagley neighborhood will soon gain a neighborhood led community center through a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and nonprofit Creating Space Detroit announced today. The campaign is being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by December 22, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/csd2019.

“This space for Detroit community members will transform a blighted property into a well-programmed space that will host and highlight the Bagley community, and, most importantly, provide a home away from home for anyone in need,” said MEDC Community Development Regional Director Sarah Rainero. “We are pleased to provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The campaign will allow Creating Space Detroit to complete its work of transforming a blighted lot, a house in need of some love and an overgrown alley into a safe, beautiful and usable community space where everyone can feel welcome.

“MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places grant matching program is a major breakthrough for the Creating Space Detroit's Community House project,” said Samoy Smith, founding board member of Creating Space Detroit. “The funds from this grant will allow us to complete our project and open the doors of our house for community use. It's empowering for our supporters to know that every dollar they donate will be matched because of the Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The first programs that are expected to be offered out of the Bagley Community Center are a co-op preschool for families with children ages 3-4 and after-school tutoring opportunities. In addition, the space will host community gathering events like potluck dinners, a perennial clothing exchange program and club meetings like local foreign language clubs. The house will also serve as the base for the neighborhood radio patrol that is currently in search of residence. Ultimately, the Bagley Community Center will serve as a meeting place in the neighborhood that fosters neighborly bonds in a safe space.

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League and Patronicity, in which 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.

 “Creating attractive public spaces is key to great placemaking,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “This community center project has the added bonus of rescuing a blighted home and lot, which will increase the safety and vibrancy of the neighborhood.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of November 18, 2019, MEDC has provided $7,160,196 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 232 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $8.3 million raised from 42,865 individual donors.

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.