Page 14 - Michigan Credit Union League: 2018 CRI Report

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The Impact of Community Reinvestment Grants

Using a Community Reinvestment and Computer Aided Design (CAD) Since opening, the coffee shop
Grant from the Michigan Credit classes. These students, along has provided a desired service
Union Foundation (MCUF), with their instructors, met with for Manistique residents, but it
Limestone Federal Credit Union, the building inspector and a local isn’t just a coffee shop. The Grind
together with the Schoolcraft engineering firm. Together they is a project that brought the
community and Manistique High reviewed building codes, handled community together, renovated a
School, created The Grind Coffee all of the demolition, installed new public space and found new ways
House. The Grind is a nonprofit headers to support the updated to teach students the valuable skills
business that trains high school design, worked with contractors of small business ownership.
students to be real entrepreneurs to reconstruct and generated
through starting and operating a a set of plans showing the final “On any given day, this once
small business. expected layout of the coffee dilapidated building is filled with
house. Meanwhile, the account- activity. It is a shining example of
Over the past few years, an ing and practical math classes what can be accomplished when
appointed student board of worked on projected financial a community comes together and
directors — with a wide range of statements, pricing, researched wholeheartedly supports a project.
interests and abilities — worked equipment needs, cost of goods, What started with one person, one
diligently on all aspects of the profit margins and projected sales. idea and one connection ended
project. They participated in board A local art student drew the logo with an entire community who
training, strategic planning, wrote and presented it to the students, is proud of their individual and
a business plan, engaged other who unanimously approved. collective contributions to this
students, sponsored fundraising endeavor,” said Limestone CEO
events and led student meetings. “I have consulted with communities Jennifer C. Watson.
for 30 years and have never seen an
The group even designed the idea attract so much attention and
coffee house’s interior. The build- support from its community,” said
ing was in bad shape, requiring Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce
significant remodeling, which was Executive Director/CEO Alan Barr.
facilitated by the building trades

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