Contact:
Kathleen Achtenberg, MEDC
517.335.4590
[email protected]
Dusty Welsh
Director-The Discovery Center
248.632.7572
[email protected]
Matt Bach
Director of Communications
Michigan Municipal League
734.669.6317; C: 810.874.1073
[email protected]; www.mml.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2020
Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for ‘Discovery Center” Project in Mt. Clemens
$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative
LANSING, Mich. – Downtown Mt. Clemens will gain a family-friendly hands-on museum through a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Discovery Center of Macomb announced today. The campaign, which will raise funds to complete the Discovery Center, is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by April 14, 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/discoverycenter.
“Creating public spaces in our main street downtowns is vital to developing attractive, vibrant places where people want to live, work, and play,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to bring the Discovery Center to life and provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
The Discovery Center is poised to become an asset for Macomb County, families in Southeast Michigan, and the local Mt. Clemens community. The center will be a new style of museum with more than 12,500 feet of exhibit and event space. The campaign will allow the funds needed to complete the final phase of building renovations at the 70 Macomb Place downtown facility. Once complete, the Discovery Center will provide a space for community gathering and youth learning.
“We are excited to be part of this effort to bring a STEAM-based children’s experience to Macomb County. The location that was selected in downtown Mt. Clemens is optimal for serving the children and families of southeast Michigan. We are excited to be working with Nick Rizzo of GTR Companies and the MEDC who see the potential impact of the attraction on the area,” said Monika Rittner, president of the Discovery Center.
The new attraction plans to offer walkable exhibits, interesting science displays, educational workshops and special events throughout the year. In addition, the project is key to the revitalization of historic downtown Mt. Clemens and is an important quality of life initiative for families in Macomb County and Southeast Michigan.
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.
“Developing a community’s arts and culture offerings is key to great placemaking,” said DanGilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The Discovery Center will make that kind of enriching experience available to the community’s youngest residents and visitors.”
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 February 27, 2020, MEDC has provided more than $7.2 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 236 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $8.4 million raised from 43,358 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.
Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org.