Community Involvement

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...

SWM REALTORS Association Awarded Placemaking Grant to Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven

SWMAR REALTORS Association Awarded Placemaking Grant to Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven

The Bailey Museum, located at 903 Bailey Avenue, South Haven received a $1,300 Placemaking micro-grant from the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS provided to them from the National Association of REALTORS to help make South Haven 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 Bailey Museum will use the grant to complete a signage project that will highlight the living collections of plants that are the legacy of Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey, the father of American horticulture. The signs will be designed by the volunteer museum staff and will allow visitors to wander the gardens and interpret the plant collections on a self-guided tour.

Anne Long, Board of Directors Chair, explained, “Without the presences of a gardener in residence, many of our guests do not have questions about the garden answered. With signs that give the Latin and English names and descriptions, guests will be able to wander the gardens anytime and learn the historical value and accomplishments of Dr. Bailey. The gardens are open year-round and are accessible to foot traffic and wheelchair access. Admission is free to visit the gardens.”

The Bailey Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about Liberty Hyde Bailey through the preservation of his birth-site home, interpreting his philosophies of land ethics and the appreciation of the natural world in our everyday life. The project is expected to start at the end of April and be completed in June.

Read more: SWM REALTORS Association Awarded Placemaking Grant to Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven