The Michigan Association of REALTORS® (MAR) has selected Greater Lansing as the host community to kick off the inaugural Lighter Quicker Cheaper Challenge, a pilot program that offers up to $20,000 in grants this summer to help fund low-budget ideas that will make local neighborhoods more attractive and livelier places to call home.
“MAR selected the Greater Lansing Association of REALTORS® (GLAR) to cosponsor the inaugural event because of the region’s mounting interest in placemaking as a community development approach”, said MAR Board President Beth Foley.
“We’re excited to help identify new ways we can partner on neighborhood placemaking improvement projects with Greater Lansing volunteers and local civic leaders,” said Meghan Webber, chief executive officer of the Greater Lansing Association of REALTORS.
The Lighter Quicker Cheaper Challenge is based on a do-it-yourself approach to placemaking through incremental and inexpensive activities, such as adding outdoor chairs to popular public gathering spaces, hosting a weekly tai chi class in a local park, decorating exterior walls of buildings with murals or staging movie nights in alleys, parking lots or cul-de-sacs.
Project proposals for the Lighter Quicker Cheaper Challenge will be accepted between July 20 and August 20, 2012. The offer is open to all Ingham, Eaton and Clinton County residents whose application complies with eligibility rules. Grants of $500, $1,000 and $2,500 (totaling $4,000 per week) will be awarded during a five-week span of consecutive Wednesdays to Greater Lansing communities. More details here. |