ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Schoolcraft Conservation District is helping the public prepare for spring with an annual funding opportunity.
Applications are now open for the district’s 2026 Community Conservation Grants program. Citizens and organizations can receive between $800 and $1,000 to put toward conservation-related projects.
“It’s just a way of us getting more boots-on-the-ground work out into our community with these small projects,” said Conservation District Manager Ashley Reitter. “We have a very limited staff here, so it’s a nice way of getting more work done and empowering the public to do it, which is a really nice mix of things for the district.”
According to Reitter, the grants have funded a wide range of local projects over the years.
“People have used this funding to put in pollinator gardens,” she said. “It’s what helped get the community garden started, where you can rent a bed for the season and grow vegetables and fruits here in town. It’s been used for some fish passage projects, putting in gardens at the bandshell. We had a teacher last year who used it to buy equipment to be able to do stream sampling with the high school students and train them in how to do some science. We like people to be creative, so we were happy to see that.”
The application deadline is Friday, May 1, at 4:00 p.m. Recipients will be notified by May 22, and all funds must be spent by November 30. Those looking for help with a project idea are encouraged to contact Reitter at schoolcraftcd@macd.org or (906) 286-2890.
To apply for the Schoolcraft Conservation District’s 2026 Community Conservation Grants Program, click here.
