Community Involvement

May 2018, SWMI REALTORS Award Placemaking Grant to Milton Township Park

The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors^® and the Michigan Association of Realtors^® provided $2,477 Placemaking Grant to help make Milton Township to be a better place to live and work by transforming an unused space into vibrant place for the community to gather and enjoy.

The grant is intended to help Realtor Associations partner with others to plan, organize, implement and maintain Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Placemaking projects in their communities.

The grant from Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors^® will be used to improve the park/playground area located next to the Township Hall. The township plans to purchase items that will help the area stay organized with a bike rack and to stay clean with pet waste free and trash receptacles.

Read more: May 2018, SWMI REALTORS Award Placemaking Grant to Milton Township Park

April 2018, SWMI REALTORS Award Placemaking Grant to Village of Baroda Dog Park

The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors^® received a $2,500 Placemaking grant from the National Association of Realtors^® to help make Village of Baroda a better place to live and work by transforming an unused space into vibrant place for the community to gather and enjoy.

The grant is intended to help Realtor Associations partner with others to plan, organize, implement and maintain Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Placemaking projects in their communities.

The grant from Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors^® will be used to provide fencing and landscaping materials to build and beautify a dog park on the south side of the Village Park, next to the tennis courts.

Read more: April 2018, SWMI REALTORS Award Placemaking Grant to Village of Baroda Dog Park

October 2016, Stone Lake Seating - Cassopolis

The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors^® a received a $2,600 Placemaking micro-grant from the National Association of Realtors^® and added $400 to it to provide a $3,000 grant to help make Stone Lake in Cassopolis a better place to live and work by transforming public spaces into vibrant community places. The grant is intended to help Realtor Associations partner with others to plan, organize, implement and maintain placemaking activities in their communities.

The Stone Lake Seating project will be located on the eastern shore of the lake adjacent to the Log Cabin Park and just below the bluff level pavilion. The current location is used for fishing and swimming but does not have amenities such as seating for encouraging it as a gathering place for the Village residents and visitors. The project plans to add permeant seating, outdoor cooking fixtures, fire pits and trash receptacles to make the area inviting for families, the community and visitors to enjoy year round. Lighting fixtures will be added to the underside of the pavilion so the area will be well lighted for evening use. The grant funds will be used to purchase material to create the seating area.

Read more: October 2016, Stone Lake Seating - Cassopolis

Berrien, Van Buren & Cass Foster Children Benefit From Very Successful SWM REALTORS® Suitcases for Kids Fundraiser

The Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS^® (SWMAR) recently celebrated the end of their tenth annual fundraising program for Suitcases for Kids. The Association along with community support raised $5,500 in cash donations and collected over 130 backpacks and numerous personal items to help Berrien, Van Buren & Cass Foster Children.

The fundraiser benefits local foster children under the supervision of the Michigan Department of Human Services in Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties. Many of the children have very little or no personal items that they can take with them when they are moved into foster care. So the new backpacks, new clothing and personal healthcare items make a huge impact during a sad and confusing time for foster children.

The community support for this fundraiser also contributed to its success. In addition to donating personal care items and cash donations, local businesses provided items for a silent auction.

The Suitcases for Kids committee members included Kelley Simpson, Angela Nutto, Jill Celie-Brenay, Kelly Luna, Meryl Green, Jenny Johnson, Tammy Anders and Kathy Pallas. The committee members are REALTORS or Affiliate Members of Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS.

Read more: Berrien, Van Buren & Cass Foster Children Benefit From Very Successful SWM REALTORS® Suitcases for...