The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation is pleased to award more than $3.8 million in new and ongoing grants to 23 organizations and programs that advance an environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant Metropolitan Detroit and a flourishing Great Lakes Ecosystem.

The Erb Family Foundation issues quarterly grants in the areas of Great Lakes; Environmental Health, Justice, and Sustainable Development; Arts; and Alzheimer’s Research.

Environmental Health, Justice and Sustainable Development projects this quarter totaled $725,000. Included in this category is a $290,000 grant to Detroit-based EcoWorks, for research related to remediating soil-based lead in homes. A grant to Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice will enable a national study of the advantages and use of community benefits agreements to improve the environmental health of communities.

In keeping with the Foundation’s focus on ensuring a flourishing Great Lakes, more than $1.7 million in grants awarded this quarter support increased stewardship, reductions in agricultural runoff, and green stormwater infrastructure. Included in this category is ongoing support for the Land + Water WORKS Coalition, which is working to engage Detroiters to scale up green stormwater infrastructure. Another grant recipient, the Huron River Watershed Council will continue a project to motivate environmentally responsible behaviors.

Other grants will:

• Help increase the Detroit Institute of Arts’ engagement with African American art collectors
• Support InsideOut Literary Arts as it builds partners and programs beyond the city of Detroit
• Enable ongoing efforts by the Alzheimer’s Association for its POINTER Study

Read our complete grants list. For more news and updates from the Foundation, visit our blog or follow us on Twitter.