The 2021 application period for the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund is now open and will close on July 15.  

 

The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund was established through Fremont Area Community Foundation in 2002. Grants awarded through the fund help sustain the waters and water-dependent natural resources of the Muskegon River by supporting conservation, enhancement, and restoration projects. The fund provides up to $50,000 annually and typical grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.  

 

Grant requests are accepted for projects or programs which conserve, enhance, or restore the Muskegon River watershed. Since 2002, the fund has provided grants to support projects including streambank stabilization, rain garden creation, site clean ups or enhancements, erosion control construction, and education, to name a few. In 2020, grant recipients included:   

 

• Mecosta County Park Commission, which received funds to stabilize over 500 feet of eroding streambank along the Muskegon River at the Davis Bridge boat launch.  
• Grant Public Schools, which received a grant to help educate students about careers related to the environment and empowering them to become community ambassadors. 
• Mecosta Conservation District, which received some funding to help support the annual Household Hazardous Clean-Up event that provides a safe method for residents in Mecosta, Osceola and Lake Counties to dispose of toxic and hazardous products.  
• The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly received a grant to help educate landowners on erosion control techniques that minimize pollution and help keep the waterways healthy and vibrant. 

 

Projects considered for grants must be located within the Muskegon River Watershed, which is one of the largest watersheds in Michigan at over 2,700 square miles. The application period for 2021 is from June 1 through July 15, 2021. Recipients will be notified by the end of the year and funds will be distributed in early 2022.  

 

For more information about the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund or to begin an online grant application, visit facommunityfoundation.org/icemountain.