Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for “Eden Gardens Enrichment Center” in Detroit

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – An old brick house will be transformed into a community learning center in the Eden Gardens Community on the East Side of Detroit through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and local nonprofit Eden Gardens Community Association announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by January 1, 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/learning.

“Grassroots-level initiatives like the Eden Gardens Enrichment Center that enrich the lives of residents of all ages are the cornerstone of community redevelopment,” said MEDC Executive Vice President of Economic Development Incentives Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project to do just that, through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

The Eden Gardens Community Association (EGCA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth in their neighborhood. This campaign will provide the funding needed to finish transforming a two-story house next door to EGCA’s community gardens community into a learning center. The center will host various youth programs throughout the year. Each day the learning center will be filled with children learning reading, math, writing and science.

During the last few years of the pandemic, children have fallen behind in science, reading, math, and social interaction. Teachers are also overwhelmed and need the help and support of the community for children to catch up on their skills. The Eden Garden Enrichment Center will help close those gaps and provide a community space for youth and mentors to gather and spend time.

The funding from this campaign will allow Eden Gardens to complete the community rooms build out for yoga, math, counseling and science, finish the public bathroom, add insulation and flooring, provide staffing for educational programs and activities, activate the basement space for teens including billiards and table tennis and studio for the arts, and add an accessible ramp and lift for inclusive access to the enrichment center. This funding will completely transform the space into a usable community center for all.

“The PSCP grant will help build and provide a community learning center to enrich the minds of children, adults and returning citizens who lack the skills needed to prepare themselves to be successful in life,” said Karen Knox, Eden Gardens Executive Director.

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local 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.

“The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer in the importance of building community wealth,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the League. “This community learning center will enrich the community for generations to come, which is what community wealth building is all about.”

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 Sept. 30, 2022, MEDC has provided more than $10.7 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 328 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $12.3 million raised from 58,468 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning our matching funds.

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.