Watershed Stewardship and Lead are Focus of Erb Foundation Grants

Today we announced $1.74 million in new and ongoing grants for our March grant cycle.

To advance an environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant metropolitan Detroit and a flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem, the Foundation supports a range of efforts that address Great Lakes stewardship, agricultural runoff, lead in housing and soil, and asthma. This grant cycle focused specifically on two of these efforts – Great Lakes stewardship and elevated blood lead levels in children.

Six new grants increase Great Lakes stewardship including three that will collaborate with southeast Michigan watershed organizations (which continue to receive critical multi-year support from the Foundation):

• Michigan State University received $100,000 to support Michigan Water School, an effort that works with watershed organizations in southeast Michigan to educate appointed and elected officials
• Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund received $200,00 over two years to support a network of nonprofit organizations working on statewide water quality and accessibility issues
• Friends of the Rouge received $35,000 to create a southeast Michigan collaborative social enterprise around watershed improvements that generate earned revenue for long-term mission-focused work

Three new grants were awarded to organizations focused on reducing lead hazards.

• Building Community Value received $75,000 to explore the interest and potential of single-family landlords in reducing elevated blood lead levels in children, and to understand landlord’s obstacles to providing lead-safe housing
• Michigan Environmental Council received $30,000 to produce independent explanatory journalism on the community impacts of lead and asthma in southeast Michigan
• Wayne State University received $180,000 to determine the necessary frequency of employing lead-safe cleaning protocols in homes

In the March grants cycle, the Erb Family Foundation also supported the following organizations, among others:

• Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation to build a broad base of environmental leadership and advocacy that will improve air quality and protect public health in Detroit and nearby communities
• Detroit Public Theatre for its new building and business model
• InsideOut Literary Arts to develop new and increased revenue opportunities that will position it for financial health and sustainable growth