ALPENA — Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan has been awarded $25,000 from the Michigan Nonprofit Relief Fund, established by the Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

“With this generous grant of $25,000, our Habitat for Humanity affiliate will be able to continue to offer critical home repair and homeownership services,” said Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan Executive Director Ted Fines. “And rest assured, every dollar will be channeled into making a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.”

The $35 million Michigan Nonprofit Relief Fund was created from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds awarded to the State of Michigan to support Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, that have demonstrated necessary expenditures and losses incurred after March 3, 2021, due to the pandemic. The fund was designed with special attention to underserved and underrepresented populations including nonprofits in rural areas and those led by and serving, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Michigan-based nonprofits applied to the Michigan Nonprofit Relief Fund in the spring of 2023. Applications were reviewed by a panel of Michigan nonprofit leaders in the summer and awardees were selected in the fall of 2023.

“These relief funds, which MNA tirelessly advocated for on behalf of Michigan nonprofits, are a lifeline for those who are most in need across the state,” said MNA President and CEO Kelley Kuhn. “We will continue to advocate for nonprofits, while also ensuring that the program is consistent with federal and state requirements.”

“The Michigan Nonprofit Relief Fund is vital for helping to remove barriers to economic prosperity and providing residents with the resources they need following the pandemic,” said Kim Trent, LEO deputy director for prosperity. “We’re proud to support eligible nonprofits who have been resilient and innovative these last few years so that we can continue to lift Michiganders out of poverty and empower communities across the state.”

In addition to the Michigan Nonprofit Relief Fund, LEO is administering an additional $15 million MI Nonprofit Impact Grant program to support larger nonprofits working tirelessly to lift people out of poverty and beyond the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed) threshold. This initiative is supported by federal award number SLFRP0127 granted to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

More information about Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan can be found at www.habitatnemi.org. For more information about the Michigan Nonprofit Relief Fund and to see a list of all grantees, visit www.mnaonline.org/policy/nonprofit-relief-fund.