By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Grand Rapids, Tuesday, July 11, 2023: Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. announces that its recommendations for annual event sponsorship funds have been approved by its Corridor Improvement Authority.
A total of $10,000 was allocated to support 13 total events, which is both this Program’s largest total allocation, as well as broadest impact, to date.
Eligible sponsorship requests are those that were submitted from the Neighborhood Associations, Business Associations and other organizations located within the Uptown GR district. The Uptown Marketing Committee then reviewed the applications and selected projects with the highest impact. A key goal of the sponsorship program is to foster and empower community building efforts amongst Uptown’s businesses and residents.
A disbursement in the amount of $1800 was approved in support of the third annual ‘One Peace Festival’, which is organized by OnePeaceFest.org and will take place in Baxter Neighborhood’s MLK Park on August 12th. Says Matthew “Monk Matthaeus” Duncan, Co-Founder of One Peace Festival: “We at One Peace Festival are grateful that Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. sees the value in what we bring to the community. Their support allows us to increase our impact via the One Peace experience. One Peace Festival is an all-ages festival with a mission to provide experiences that build healthy communities through Hip Hop culture and local advocacy. We strive to promote unity over division through a shared experience enjoyed by people of all ages. We believe in advancing health and wellness, advocacy for local and small business, and educating our community on the valuable resources that are available in West Michigan.”
An additional twelve events and series have been supported through the Program, as follows: The 50th annual Eastown Street Fair; Midtown Grooves; Wealthy Street Alive; A Chair Affair; First Fridays in East Hills, Cherry Park Concert Series; Picnic In the Cherry Park Summer Series; Fulton Heights Annual Picnic and Community Party; Flea Market on Fulton; Fall on Fulton, Eco Row on Fulton; Terra GR 10th Anniversary Block Party in Eastown.
Ingrid Miller, Executive Director of UGRI, says of its Sponsorship Program: “UGRI strives to support events in our district that are a catalyst for community building, and that activate our vibrant district. We have so many talented residents and businesses in Uptown who work together to create these dynamic experiential opportunities. We are proud to contribute to their efforts as we view them to be an instrumental part of what makes Uptown GR a flourishing destination for neighbors and visitors alike.”
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Uptown consists of four business districts: Eastown, East Fulton, Wealthy Street, and East Hills. In all climates, Uptown celebrates its people, partnerships, and possibilities. Its mission is to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond.
For more information about this and all things Uptown, please contact Ingrid Miller.
For more information about Onepeace.org, please contact Matthew Duncan.