*Grass Lake Farmers Market $15,000
The Grass Lake Farmers Market provides local produce and opportunities for social connections to all demographics as community members of all ages utilize the market. For year 9, funds will support marketing expenses, the market manager, special requirements for COVID-19, and special activities every Wednesday from mid-May through September. Our goals this year are to increase vendor sales, customer traffic, and overall attendance. This intervention includes Music in the Park.

(new) Healthy Eating Workshops (Plant Based food workshop, Cooking With the Coalition, and Regie Rainbow Adventure for Kids) $1205 – In our efforts to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and help Grass Lake residents achieve a healthy weight, the Farmers Market will focus on these workshops:

1 – Regie’s Rainbow Adventure is an 6 week program that consists of children’s books, puppets and taste testing to help children learn about different healthy fruits and vegetables. Youth follow Regie the broccoli superhero, to different islands based on the colors of the rainbow. Children are introduced to new fruits and vegetables and earn power stripes by eating healthy and physical activity. Cindy Caro will implement and facilitate the program. We were inspired by the Spring 2018 issue of Connected to implement this program.

2 – Plant Based Diet Workshop is a one- time class conducted by local resident and Forks Over Knives featured story participant Dominique Linden. Dominique has conducted plant- based classes in the past to share her story about her success with the diet in turning around her heath. She will conduct a presentation of a sample meal as well.

3 – Cooking with the Coalition will be a series of (4) cooking demos with some favorite members of the coalition and Grass Lake community – Dawn Cuddie, Matt Pegouskie, Britt Keene and Amy Kaiser will participate in a multi-camera social media cooking demonstration.  Each will prepare a favorite healthy dish.

*Hot Fun in the Summer Cooking Classes – $3000

Hot fun in the Summer will provide (2) 2-week cooking classes for youth ages 9-11. Each class incorporates the fundamentals of cooking to increase cooking skills and help youth prepare more healthy foods. Estimate 16 students/class.

*Fresh Air Outdoor Yoga Series $2000

Building on the success of the Fresh Air Festival last year, the Fresh Air Yoga Series includes Yoga by the Lake every Saturday June through Labor Day, Farmers Market Yoga under the pavilion every Thursday evening, and Family/Kids yoga. The series is accessible to all ages and abilities. This intervention was created to merge organized exercise classes offered by staff at the Chelsea Wellness Center with Grass Lake’s outdoor parks.

(new) Accessible Grass Lake – $4,000
The Village of Grass Lake proposes connecting Grass Lake Community Events Pavilion with the sidewalk network in downtown Grass Lake.  This will be accomplished with a short ADA-compliant sidewalk from the street side sidewalks to the pavilion itself.  Without on-site parking it can be difficult for mobility challenged individuals to reach the pavilion, especially in wet conditions.  The pavilion serves at the hub for Grass Lake Farmers Market, open air exercise events, a base for all the races in Grass Lake and much more.

Township Sports and Trails Improvements – $23,435

For Year 9, Grass Lake Charter Township proposes the installation of 2 sand volleyball courts ($13,935), basketball court improvements and line striping ($1700) and a 6- foot boardwalk addition to our fitness trails. ($7800)

*Grass Lake Road Runners – $1000
The Grass Lake Road Runner Race Series this year will be made up of three independent races. The series includes the Traffic Jam’in 5k (July 9, 2021), the Relay for Life Run for Hope 5k (Date TBA), and Harvest Hustle 5K (Date TBA). The purpose of the running series is to expand the running and walking community in Grass Lake by creating more affordable, local physical activity opportunities for residents of the Grass Lake area.

(new) Mindfulness Outreach for Youth and Adults – $610

Kids Mindful Hikes and Adult Mindfulness Classes target residents of all ages in Grass Lake to help manage stress and anxiety through meditation and breathing techniques. We will utilize local hiking trails from Spring through Fall for youth programs, and adult classes will take place in the Spring/Summer at the Lost Railway Train museum.

* Connect with Others at the Pavilion (Improvements) – $5000

This intervention proposes improvements of ADA-compliant seating, sunshades and signage to assist people with limitations using the shelter. We feel that this intervention falls under Connect With others because Community Events Park has become a centerpiece for community gatherings in Grass lake. Everything from the Farmers market to Yoga classes to Music in the Park, Cooking Classes, and Senior Center physical activity classes are hosted here. These improvements will connect generations with different activities, allow for more educational and support classes, and allow people to build up their support networks by the elimination of barriers toward using the site.

*Grass Lake Senior Center – $15,000

Now in its 7th year, the Grass Lake Senior Center (GLSC) provides area residents ages 50+ many activities that have a positive impact on their health and well-being by providing opportunities for social connections, physical activity, healthy eating and lifelong learning. The center’s goals post-COVID will be to continue our 4 days/2 evenings per week of scheduled programming and to add an outdoor seasonal fifth day off site. During the pandemic, the center will conduct weekly well check phone calls and online activities as needed. Volunteers will continue making home deliveries. Our many collaborators, including Grass Lake Charter Township, Grass Lake Branch of Jackson District Library, and Jackson County Department on Aging, are vital partners.

*Project Safe Graduation – $1000
Sponsored by Grass Lake Community Schools and funding support from The Copper Nail, a committee of people have come together to continue an annual event for seniors called “Project Safe Graduation.” This is a time for all seniors to gather as a class one last time and make some wonderful high school memories.  The students will be “locked in” to the school first, attending a 50- minute game/presentation involving health education and drug and alcohol awareness information. Then transported to the Jackson YMCA the Friday before graduation, participating in games, activities, music, sports, swimming, and rock wall climbing, with dinner also being provided.   Door prizes will be provided throughout the night.

Marketing and Sponsorships – $3750

GLCWI proposes using $3,750 for marketing funds to help the coalition reach the greater Grass Lake community.  We propose using the funds to 1) create a direct mail brochure highlighting activities and wellness events; 2) sponsor Grass Lake Traffic Jam’In and the Youth Sports Golf Outing; and43) increase awareness about the Big Red Barrel medication disposal system, and 4) install a permanent kiosk at Whistlestop Depot Park that will advertise all the coalition events and related community activities. The coalition will assume all maintenance of the kiosk and ensure materials are updated.