JACKSON, Mich. Feb. 27, 2025 — The Consumers Energy Foundation is calling for entries in the annual Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, which will provide $50,000 in grant funding for three projects to help small communities in Michigan grow and thrive.

Communities with up to 10,000 residents can submit proposals through March 28. “Michigan communities are full of talented and creative residents with big ideas about how to see the towns they live in grow and thrive,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “The Put Your Town on the Map competition gives individuals and organizations in smaller communities that don’t always have access to the same resources the opportunity to bring those ideas to life.”

The Put Your Town on the Map competition seeks to reward innovative ideas that attract visitors to downtowns, advance housing, education or employment, cultivate community pride and more. Community leaders can learn more and apply here.

The Consumers Energy Foundation and the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) will select 10 finalists to make their pitches at the Small Town and Rural Development Conference in June. The top three winners will receive grants worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Consumers Energy started the competition in 2019. In 2024, grant dollars were awarded to Imlay City for a public interactive art display, Rogers City for a public art sculpture, and St. Johns for community art benches.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth and strengthening of Michigan communities by investing in what’s most important — our people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2024, the Consumers Energy Foundation, CMS Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $15 million in support of Michigan nonprofits and communities. For more information, visit consumersenergy.com/foundation.

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