Archived News Release: May 20, 2020 - The City of Ann Arbor has been awarded a grant from Partners for Places, a project of the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, for the city's Aging in Place Efficiently initiative.
This grant will support an Aging in Place Efficiently program that strives to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for low-income seniors — while simultaneously reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. By teaming up with local partners, such as Meals on Wheels and Michigan Saves, and energy efficiency experts, the city hopes low-income seniors can live longer in their place of choice with a combination of direct human services, physical improvements to their homes and energy efficiency upgrades that reduce their monthly expenditures.
“Helping our low-income seniors age in a place of their choosing while simultaneously improving the health and safety of their living conditions is integral to our sustainability and equity work," said Missy Stults, sustainability and innovations manager at the City of Ann Arbor. “We are delighted to work with community partners to pilot this work in the city and explore opportunities for expanding throughout the county."
The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan Saves, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley, Evangelical Homes of Michigan, Washtenaw County Community and Economic Development, and Dr. Tony Reames from the University of Michigan are all partners in this work. “Michigan Saves is thrilled to partner with the City of Ann Arbor and other local organizations to pilot this important program," said Mary Templeton, Michigan Saves president and CEO. “With our combined expertise, we look forward to making a difference in the lives of seniors by helping them age gracefully and achieve better health outcomes through the power of energy efficiency."
In total, the city and its partner organizations will receive $198,504 to support this work. Half of the funding comes from the national Partners for Places grant program and half from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF).
“Through our Glacier Hills Legacy Fund, AAACF is proud to support the public-private partnership that combines safe housing, in-home support services, and sustainability for low-income seniors as part of our commitment to healthy aging for all across our community" said Jillian Rosen, AAACF's vice president for community investment.
Partners for Places, a joint effort by the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), pairs local governments with philanthropy to support sustainability projects across the United States and Canada.
Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. Through these projects, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our urban areas more prosperous, livable and vibrant. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one-year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two-year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations.
Partners for Places' general grant program is supported by The JPB Foundation, Kendeda Fund, The Kresge Foundation, New York Community Trust, the Pisces Foundation, The Summit Foundation and Surdna Foundation.
To date, Partners for Places has awarded nearly $7.4 million across North America in this successful matching grant program, leading to more than $16 million in investments.
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