Grand Rapids Reporter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The State of Michigan’s Department of Education has awarded funding to 11 out-of-school time (OST) programs in Grand Rapids, impacting the lives of children and youth in the community for years to come. Leaders in this space say that this never seen before funding underscores the critical need for increased investment in their work.

Thanks to a $50 million budget allocation for out-of-school time programs, these Grand Rapids programs join nearly 130 youth-serving organizations across the state in securing grant dollars to provide extended learning and enrichment opportunities before school, after school, and in the summer.

Michigan OST grant fund investments will yield transformative experiences for youth in Grand Rapids through the following agencies:

Baxter Community Center - ELO Network MemberBridge Street Ministries - ELO Network MemberCamp Blodgett - ELO Network MemberGrand Valley State University - ELO Network MemberNew City Kids - ELO Network MemberOakdale NeighborsRefugee Education CenterSTEM Greenhouse - ELO Network MemberThe Edge Urban FellowshipThe Other Way MinistriesYMCA - by way of State Alliance of YMCA’s - ELO Network Member

List of 2023-2024 MI Out of School Time Grant Awardees

Earlier this year, the Michigan Department of Education – in partnership with the newly established Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) and the Michigan Afterschool Partnership (MASP) – traveled across the state to host information sessions on the MI OST Grant opportunity to increase awareness and the application pool. MDE and MASP partnered with the Grand Rapids Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Network in piloting the first in-person information session at City Hall on September 7. Several members of the ELO Network attended the information session and subsequently have been awarded funding.

“This investment is critical to realizing the positive youth outcomes we want to see in this community,” said Christy Knetsch, executive director of New City Kids: Grand Rapids and ELO Network Chair-Elect. “The ELO Network is dedicated to collective impact not only in theory, but in practice when youth-serving organizations advocate for funding and work together to ensure every young person in Grand Rapids has access to high quality programs.”

The ELO Network (ELO) is a collective of out-of-school time providers dedicated to delivering high quality youth programming throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area. ELO is managed by Our Community’s Children, a public/private partnership between the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and community partners.

Original source can be found here.