BC/Kzoo
Micro-Enterprise Grants Buoy 100 Small Businesses
A grant program unveiled last month will bring $500,000 in relief to 100 Kalamazoo microbusinesses dealing with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of the businesses will receive $5,000 through the Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) program, a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region.…
Read MoreGrant Catalyzes Giving in Communities of Color
Equipping communities of color to tackle immediate and chronic needs, especially those heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a key element of work being tackled by the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, with the support of a $240,000 grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The grant will be divided in two…
Read MoreUWBCKR Statement on George Floyd
UWBCKR envisions a vibrant community where all people realize their full potential. Violence, fear, and racism are in direct conflict with that vision and our values. We are therefore compelled to acknowledge and condemn the unjust killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers along with the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbrey, Breonna Taylor and…
Read More2-1-1 Answers The Call During Pandemic
Mention “frontline workers,” and you probably think about doctors and nurses, first responders, grocery store workers, and delivery staff. Yet there’s another crucial role to keep in mind: the call center staff at Gryphon Place 2-1-1. Maricela Alcala, CEO of Gryphon Place, said the team has been fielding calls from home since Michigan’s stay-at-home order…
Read MoreGrant Program Launched to Support Microbusinesses
A $500,000 grant program launched today will bring crucial relief to Kalamazoo’s smallest businesses hit hard by the economic fallout of the pandemic. The Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) provides grants of $5,000 to eligible microbusinesses within the city limits. The grants are a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and United Way of the Battle…
Read MoreConsumers Energy Foundation Gift to Spark Small Business Microgrants
A $200,000 donation from the Consumers Energy Foundation will support the creation of a new microgrant program for small businesses in the City of Kalamazoo. The program, which will focus on women- and people-of-color-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19, will be a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and the United Way of Battle Creek and…
Read MoreFund Lifts Small Businesses With $1.12 Million in Loans
From restaurants to retailers, Kalamazoo small businesses are tapping a financial lifeline to help them deal with the economic impact of COVID-19. Thus far, the Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Fund (KSBLF) has approved 63 low-interest loans totaling $1,120,600. The fund was created earlier this month through a partnership of the City of Kalamazoo and United…
Read MoreRelief Bill Includes $300 Tax Break for Charitable Gifts
Americans have access to a new tax incentive this year when making a donation to qualifying charities, including United Way of the Battle Creek Region and many of our local nonprofit partners. The federal relief stimulus under the CARES Act allows taxpayers to claim an additional $300 deduction on their taxes without itemizing. The universal…
Read MoreBattle Creek Generosity Bolsters Relief Fund
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Battle Creek area foundations and individual donors are stepping up in a big way. Recent donations from the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the Miller Foundation and the Binda Foundation strengthened United Way’s Disaster Relief Fund by $25,000. What’s more, those gifts will bring an additional $15,000 from DTE,…
Read MoreUW Partnership Addresses Drug Costs, Access During Pandemic
United Way’s partnership with FamilyWize is especially crucial in helping individuals and families get access to lower-cost medicines during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s essential for people to take their prescribed medicines as directed by their physicians, especially as the health care system is stressed by COVID-19. Community residents can call FamilyWize for free customer support…
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