LANSING, Mich. – Today, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Office of Global Michigan awarded $738,000 to support 17 ethnic and community-based organizations in strengthening infrastructure and building capacity through the Capacity Building and Outreach Program. The funding will allow grantees to focus on growth and sustainability of their organization’s structure, build on needed programming and expand their collaboration and outreach efforts.  

“The success of our state depends on making sure that all Michiganders feel welcome and have access to resources they need to succeed here in Michigan,” said Susan Corbin, LEO Director. “Newcomers contribute significantly to Michigan’s vibrant communities and economy, and we look forward to ongoing investments to build a more inclusive state where everyone has equal opportunity for prosperity.”  

Serving many different newcomer populations, these ethnic and community-based organizations – many established by or employing newcomers – ensure individuals and families have the resources they need to reach their full potential in our state. 

“We know how important the full continuum of our partners is to the successful integration of newcomers to our state,” said Poppy Hernandez, Office of Global Michigan executive director. “This is an exciting step in supporting and formally partnering with some of our state’s great ethnic-based community organizations to make Michigan more welcoming and inclusive.” 

In addition to addressing organizations’ infrastructure and capacity needs, the 17 proposed projects supported by the Capacity Building and Outreach Program will also collaborate with other Global Michigan initiatives focusing on uplifting communities, notably the Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Council and the four Regional Community Collaboratives. They will inform Global Michigan of community needs as it relates to newcomer integration. 

Michigan has been the state of choice for many newcomer populations, and nonprofit organizations help resettle and integrate thousands of newcomers every year. The state expects to welcome an increased number of individuals and families as additional immigration pathways have been created at the federal level. Newcomer populations including refugees, humanitarian parolees, asylum seekers and immigrants contribute significantly to Michigan’s social, cultural and economic vitality.  

Funded organizations include:   

Funding for these grants included $574,000 from the recently appropriated New Michigander Fund, and the other $164,000 was allocated from federal Office of Refugee Resettlement funding.