Huge congratulations to the GWOAT, Flint's own Claressa Shields! You probably know by now that she defeated Danielle Perkins last night becoming boxing's first-ever women's undisputed heavyweight champion.
What you may not know is that Claressa has also partnered with the Land Bank to make an important difference on the street where she grew up. Click below to learn more.
Beecher High School
Big news!!! The Mott Foundation has granted $10 million dollars in the ongoing effort to reopen Flint's Beecher High School.
The district closed the building in 2004 and relocated all high school students to the middle school building, where it has since operated both schools in the same space. The fully renovated high school building will feature 20 classrooms with innovative spaces that could serve up to 500 students.
Click here to read more: https://www.mott.org/news/releases/mott-foundation-grants-10-million-to-support-beecher-high-school-renovations/
In addition to the Mott Foundation, the state of Michigan and local philanthropist Matt Rizik, CEO of Rock Companies, who was born and raised in Flint, have contributed significant support to the renovation project. Click below to watch Rizik's story and learn about the Land Bank's role from our documentary, The Land Bank: 20 Years from Crisis to Opportunity.
We are thrilled to see this transformative project taking shape! Rocket
Annual Report on ABC 12
Happy new year!!! 🎉 ICYMI: Our annual report, marking 20 years of impact, was featured tonight on ABC12 News. Click the video below to watch.
A new year brings new opportunities for affordable homeownership, redevelopment, blight elimination, community engagement, vacant land reuse, our Clean & Green program, economic opportunities, and so much more.
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you as we shape the future of Genesee County! Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Mid Michigan Now Demolition
ICYMI: Our work to eliminate blight in our community, clearing the way for redevelopment and opportunity, is the subject of this report tonight from Mid-Michigan NOW.
Over the last 20 years, the Land Bank has demolished more than 9,000 blighted structures and secured more than $165 million for blight elimination including demolition, brownfield assessment and remediation, community-based maintenance, and other improvements. (Approximately $143 million was specifically for demolition and associated environmental remediation.)
These efforts are backed by American Rescue Plan Act funding from the City of Flint, Genesee County, and the State Land Bank Authority, along with support from the Mott Foundation, HUD, and others.
Through fiscal year 2023-2024, more than 1,000 structures were removed or were in the process of being removed out of 1,900 structures prioritized. Click below for the full story.
The Land Bank: 20 Years from Crisis to Opportunity
OUR DOCUMENTARY IS LIVE! Click below to watch the full documentary now.
Meet the incredible people - including Flint's own Claressa Shields - who are caring for vacant land, planting gardens, rehabbing abandoned homes, carrying out demolitions, becoming first-time homeowners, building new businesses, investing in Flint, and breathing new life into our resilient community.
We are proud of all that's happened over the last 20 years and excited for all that's to come. Pull up a seat, click play, and see what the Land Bank is really all about.
Land Bank Vacant Lot Reuse
Vacant land provides a blank canvas and an opportunity to reshape the future of our community. Did you know? Over the last 20 years, the Genesee County Land Bank has sold more than 5,000 vacant lots for re-use. More than 1,050 vacant lots were adopted or leased to residents and community groups for green space or gardens.
Click the video below to meet the Flint residents behind the Martin Luther King Peace Garden and hear how it was created by reusing vacant land. The garden, located at King Avenue and McClellan Street, is a peaceful community space that's beautifying our community after abandoned homes were torn down there.
Have an innovative idea that would benefit our community by reusing vacant land? We'd love to hear more. Let us know by visiting thelandbank.org.
Clean and Green & Mowers
Hundreds of local residents and volunteers help us maintain vacant properties every year, making our community cleaner and safer. The Land Bank also hires and trains a seasonal workforce of dozens of residents. Maybe you've seen them out there mowing, cleaning, and working?
Click the video below to meet some of the people behind this important work and see them in action.
Stay tuned for The Land Bank: 20 Years from Crisis to Opportunity, an entire documentary that will be shown during a special anniversary celebration on September 24. Learn more: thelandbank.org #thelandbank #20years
Demolitions
"I'm just glad it's gone... Getting rid of the old trash which is the stuff that people don't want to see next door to their home."
That's what one Flint resident told us as a blighted home was being torn down on her block. Click the video player to watch the demolition in progress and hear why this is such an important part of the work we do.
Stay tuned for The Land Bank: 20 Years from Crisis to Opportunity, a full documentary that will be shown during a special anniversary celebration on September 24. Learn more: thelandbank.org #thelandbank #20years
What is The Land Bank?
Allow us to reintroduce ourselves.
In honor of the Genesee County Land Bank's 20th anniversary, we're looking back and looking ahead to our future and the communities we serve. Over the last 20 years, the Genesee County Land Bank has leveraged more than $230 million to redevelop vacant properties and much more. Click the video to watch.
The Land Bank’s mission is to restore value to our community by acquiring, developing, and selling abandoned properties in cooperation with stakeholders who value responsible land ownership.
This is the first story in a 5-part series. Stay tuned for The Land Bank: 20 Years from Crisis to Opportunity, a full documentary that will be shown during a special anniversary celebration on September 24. Learn more: thelandbank.org #thelandbank #20years
Revitalizing Genesee County by acquiring, maintaining, developing and selling vacant land and homes.
