Crowdfunding campaign launched for the ‘Two Cities Connected’ project in Bay City

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

LANSING, Mich. – Bay City will gain a public plaza and interactive art sculpture through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by May 16, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/baycity.

“This project honors a global relationship through place and culture, while unifying the community and providing an enriching space for residents and visitors to enjoy,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for the Two Cities Connected project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class is creating a plaza, in collaboration with students from the Bay Arenac Intermediate School District (BAISD), to commemorate their sister city relationship with Ansbach, Bavaria (Germany). To commemorate their 60th anniversary as sister cities, both Bay City and Ansbach are commissioning a public tribute.

Bay City’s public plaza “The Ansbach Platz” will signify the importance of cultural exchange and the enrichment of our two communities. This plaza will include the “Two Cities Connected” Split Globe Sculpture, benches, decorative hardscaping, planters, and lighting. Building community in Bay City and across the globe honors its sister city relationship with a plaza that adds culture to the uptown area and unifies the cultural wealth of Bay City.

“The PSCP program is an opportunity that allows for community members to be a part of transformational projects that directly impacts where they work, live, and play. The Sister City Plaza that is already backed by community momentum is not just important to the organizations that are establishing this community centerpiece, but also the sister city relationship we hold with Ansbach, Germany,” said Dana Muscott, city manager of Bay City. “Having a core fixture of our community that directly relates us to our sister city and which was backed by community stakeholders and local residents is an incredible opportunity to show what can be accomplished when our local community comes together.”

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

“The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer in building community wealth in ways that enhance the human experience for everyone,” said Dan Gilmartin, the League’s CEO and Executive Director. “Adding The Ansbach Platz with the cooperation of the Bay Arenac Intermediate School District does exactly that. With the support of the Bay City-area community, this effort will improve the human experience for all for years to come. That is what community wealth building is about.”

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 Feb. 28, 2022, MEDC has provided more than $9.8 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 302 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $11.2 million raised from 51,922 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning our matching funds.

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.