Consumers Energy Foundation Awards $50,000 for 2025 Put Your Town on the Map Winners

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The Consumers Energy Foundation has announced the winners of its 2025 Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, awarding $50,000 in total grants to three Michigan towns. Fowlerville secured the top prize of $25,000 for a mural honoring Baseball Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer, while Watson Township received $15,000 for Seven Generations Park development, and Manistee won $10,000 for its Voices of Manistee storytelling initiative. The competition, launched in 2019, supports communities with populations under 10,000. In 2024, the Consumers Energy Foundation, along with CMS Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed over $15 million to Michigan nonprofits and communities, demonstrating their commitment to strengthening local communities and enhancing quality of life across the state.

Honoring Tigers Baseball Legend, Celebrating Heritage and Strengthening Identity

THOMPSONVILLE, Mich., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumers Energy Foundation announced the winners of the 2025 Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, providing a total of $50,000 in grant funding for the winning projects. The three towns will receive $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 respectively to go toward their projects.

"Consumers Energy is committed to enhancing the quality of life for our neighbors and communities," said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. "We're proud to invest in these initiatives that will strengthen community identity and improve public spaces."

The winners are:

1. Fowlerville (Livingston) — Developing a mural honoring hometown hero, Charlie Gehringer, a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1924-1942.
2. Watson Township (Allegan) — Supporting Seven Generations Park, a collaboration with the Anishinaabe (Gun Lake Tribe), Martin High School, and the township, featuring a natural area and veterans memorial.
3. Manistee — Creating the Voices of Manistee initiative, a civic storytelling project aimed at strengthening community identity and fostering a sense of belonging among residents.

The projects were selected by a panel of judges made up of Consumers Energy, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) representatives, after being pitched at the Rural Partners of Michigan's annual Small Town and Rural Development Conference. Consumers Energy started the competition, which seeks to support communities in Michigan with fewer than 10,000 residents, in 2019. In 2024, grant dollars were awarded to Imlay City for a public interactive art and audio display, Rogers City for a public art sculpture, and St. Johns for artistic benches throughout the community.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth and strengthening of Michigan communities by investing in what's most important — our people, our planet and Michigan's prosperity. In 2024, the Consumers Energy Foundation, CMS Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $15 million in support of Michigan nonprofits and communities. For more information, visit consumersenergy.com/foundation.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

What is the Consumers Energy Foundation's Put Your Town on the Map competition?

It's a pitch competition launched in 2019 that awards grants to Michigan communities with fewer than 10,000 residents to support local development projects. In 2025, it awarded $50,000 total to three towns.

How much did Consumers Energy Foundation contribute to Michigan communities in 2024?

In 2024, the Consumers Energy Foundation, CMS Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $15 million to support Michigan nonprofits and communities.

Who won the 2025 Put Your Town on the Map competition?

Fowlerville won first place ($25,000) for a Charlie Gehringer mural, Watson Township second place ($15,000) for Seven Generations Park, and Manistee third place ($10,000) for the Voices of Manistee initiative.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Put Your Town on the Map competition?

The competition is open to Michigan communities with populations under 10,000 residents.