Annual Newsletter | 2020 Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence $120+ Million Helping us through In 2021, the FFE will surpass $120 million committed to achieving COVID-19 Kalamazoo’s vision (page 4). The importance of partnerships and shared Projects Map vision became clearer than ever as our FFE-supported projects are taking community responded to the challenges shape and impacting lives in all of of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of Kalamazoo’s neighborhoods (page 6). individuals and dozens of organizations continue to devote themselves to helping in Affordable Housing this crisis. The Foundation for Excellence is The FFE is helping to keep people in proud to help our community through this their homes and add hundreds of new unprecedented time (read more inside). units of affordable housing (page 10). Supporting Kalamazoo through COVID-19 In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed life across the globe. The Foundation for COVID-19 Response COVID-19 Response Excellence quickly made life-saving and job-saving investments in Kalamazoo. Helping the collaboration. Access meant crashing because of demand,” Helpers funding technology and said Director of Community The first action the Kalamazoo navigator roles to help people Planning & Economic City Commission took to through unemployment for Development Rebekah Kik, help soften impacts of the first time, language “the City was lending bridge the unfolding COVID-19 translation for meetings and dollars. Small businesses got crisis was to support the printed materials, and basic that money right away, and Students get help with their virtual learning at a Disaster Relief Fund resources for marginalized we are still working with them Learning Hub hosted by El Concilio. year program called Digital (DRF) in partnership with populations. Neighborhood closely today.” Access for All. This is a the United Way of the involvement ensured needs Mitchell said. “The Small One area of emphasis partnership of the City (with Battle Creek and Kalamazoo were addressed in an Community Investment Business Loan Fund has had identified was in responding to Foundation for Excellence Region (UWBCKR). This fund orchestrated way, often on a Manager Antonio Mitchell a really good impact on the the needs of all businesses. In funding), Kalamazoo Public supports direct service and block-by-block level. conveyed the scale of the city. We helped people keep a time of crisis, that included Schools (KPS), the Kalamazoo non-profit organizations to undertaking. “We normally employees and keep lights on.” leveraging grant dollars to Public Library, the Kalamazoo help when things are most “We came together in a would not get this many create a micro-enterprise fund Promise, and Kalamazoo dire. Overall, 50 non-profit crisis to solve problems and resources out the door in a Longer term, the City is for businesses that may not Community Foundation. Up organizations were given addressed immediate need,” two year time period,” he said, seeing a path forward out even have had the resources to 1,000 KPS households financial assistance by the said Alyssa Stewart, VP of “what we did in those first of COVID-19. “We are to apply for a low-barrier can receive access to create DRF between March and June Impact and Engagement for three months.” transitioning into a business loan or were concerned about more equitable distance 2020. Approximately 18% of UWBCKR, “and it brought us response and stabilization taking on additional debt learning during the COVID-19 DRF dollars came from the together to look at lasting Kalamazoo Small Business plan in 2021 because of the during an uncertain time. pandemic. City’s $310,000 grant using solutions for how we can work Loan Fund resources COVID response work in Foundation for Excellence together. Lives were saved.” were made available in 2020,” Mitchell said. “A focus The Kalamazoo Micro- Challenges remain for funds in March. partnership with the United of the City is to increase and Enterprise Grants were youth whose parents are Vital Support Way of the Battle Creek and stabilize our business and tax born from these discussions essential workers, and for Themes of DRF giving for Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Region. To date base to further enhance the and leveraged $200,000 those experiencing housing were access, neighborhood Businesses the Kalamazoo Small Business ability of the City to serve its in additional funding to instability or homelessness. involvement, and “While federal websites were Loan Fund has disbursed residents and visitors.” grant nearly $500,000 to That’s why the City, with $1.35 million in 1% loans to approximately 100 businesses, Foundation for Excellence 76 City businesses with fewer The speed with which 42% of which were minority- funding, is supporting than 50 full-time employees businesses needed to receive owned and 63% women- fourteen Learning Hubs and less than $2.5 million in financial help also heightened owned. created with KPS and $2.63 million annual revenue. Of eligible concerns about how partners the Kalamazoo Youth businesses 82% were funded, were going to best serve Finding New Ways Development Network. and 55% of approvals were women and minority-owned to Learn Approximately 400 K–12 to help with women and/or minority- small businesses in terms All Kalamazoo Public School students most in need of owned. of outreach, grants versus learners have the opportunity a quality physical learning loans, cultural competence, to be connected to free high- environment are benefiting “The City really stepped up,” networking, and more. speed Internet through a one- from this additional support. COVID-19 3 Earning Trust and Directors that represent Board of Directors More than Proving Value diverse sectors such as The Foundation for Excellence healthcare, education, and Aspirational Dr. Angela Graham-Williams (FFE) is an independent non- business. It also includes five President, Healthcare $120 Million profit organization created City Directors, including the Projects: in 2017 to help address Mayor, City Manager, two City James K. Ritsema $44.8 million longstanding challenges to the Commissioners and an At- Vice President, City Manager Committed prosperity of Kalamazoo and Large Director. make it a dynamic, fulfilling Adam McFarlin Treasurer, Business In just four years, the Foundation for Excellence Funding Our and equitable community for There are annual opportunities (FFE) has budgeted more than $120 million Community’s Vision all. The FFE provides more for community members to Barbara Hamilton-Miller towards the success of Kalamazoo’s people than $25 million each year apply to serve on the Board. Secretary, Neighborhood Focus, Each year, Foundation for Excellence and neighborhoods. This has allowed the to stabilize the City’s budget, The outreach and selection Oakland-Winchell funding moves Kalamazoo closer to realizing City to lower taxes while still significantly lower the property tax rate, process prioritizes diversity our community vision. The results are increasing investments in our community. and invest in aspirational of abilities, perspectives, and David Anderson clear: graduates starting new careers, youth These investments in youth programming, community programs. FFE across sectors. There are no Mayor engaged during the summer and after school, parks, infrastructure, career development, directly supports the work of requirements on previous repaired sidewalks, new water services, more Sandra Calderon-Huezo transportation, economic and business the City of Kalamazoo, which board membership nor affordable housing units, and much more. Neighborhood Focus, Edison support, and housing have a positive is often in collaboration with restrictions on who can apply, impact in every neighborhood. FFE funding partners whose missions though an overall percentage Alisa Carrel has also stabilized the City of Kalamazoo align with the Imagine of city residents is required. Arts Organizations budget so the City can focus on our Infrastructure $ 12.2 M Kalamazoo 2025 Strategic More information is available community’s needs and vision. Vision. To ensure this work at www.kalamazoocity.org/FFE. Nathan Dannison At-Large Economic Development $ 9.2 M continues sustainably forever, an endowment is being All board meetings are Affordable Housing $ 7.7 M Jeanne Hess Budget Stabilization established with a goal of conducted under the Open City Commission $16.2 million raising $500 million. Meetings Act, welcome the Youth Development $ 6.0 M general public, and feature an Stephanie Hoffman Board of Directors opportunity for comment. Housing Park Improvements $ 4.2 M The Board of Directors is Rachel Lonberg made up of ten Stakeholder Good Governance $ 2.3 M Faith-Based Organizations Shared Prosperity $ 2.1 M Alice Taylor Strength through Diversity Neighborhood Focus, Northside Kalamazoo’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Neighborhoods & Other $ 1.1 M Tax Savings The FFE values and celebrates diverse perspectives, Charlene Taylor experiences, and skills in the membership of its Board Affinity Organizations $60.1 million of Directors. You can explore investments supported by the Jack C. Urban Foundation for Excellence through an interactive City Commission dashboard at www.kalamazoocity.org/ffe. Von Washington, Jr. The dashboard is built from FFE budget data Education since its creation in 2017 and property tax 63% 43% women people of color analysis by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Bobby J. Hopewell Employment Research. Founding Director Emeritus 5 Foreclosure prevention