By Keely Baribeau

For more than the last decade in St. Clair County, the common denominator for almost all of its large, successful and impactful projects in the region has been collaboration and support between public, private and philanthropic partners. And several government and community leaders agree that the Community Foundation of St. Clair County specifically, has been a critically important partner.

In recent decades, rarely is this a sole matter of fiscal, tax and budget responsibility in public works. A portion of the success of a city, region or county can financially be foretold in the generosity and engagement of private donors, foundations and local corporations. 

“The Community Foundation has helped transform several locations in St. Clair County to become destinations,” stated Community Foundation Chairwoman Patti Manley, longtime partner in the prominent CPA firm of McBride Manley in Marine City. “Our funding helps free up local government dollars for roads, utilities, upgrades and matching dollars. I am very proud of the work that the Foundation has done and continues to do to support our local governments.”

Community Impact

Quentin Bishop, City Manager of St. Clair agrees. “A singular explanation for the success of economic growth in the city of St. Clair points to the funding received by the Community Foundation. Many partners donate their time, talents and treasures but not at the level or consistency of the Community Foundation.” Since 2020 alone, the Community Foundation has provided $4.2 million in funding to Port Huron, St. Clair, Marine City and Marysville. In smaller communities the Foundation has provided funding for new helmets and safety equipment for Clyde Township Fire Department, a new generator for the Village of Emmett Fire Department and new Sonar equipment for the County Dive Team.

“The Community Foundation has been a huge partner as a conduit for Marine City to successfully complete projects with the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, Southeastern Michigan businesses and other support organizations in both the private and public sectors,” said Michael Reeves, City Manager of Marine City. “They have stepped up repeatedly where these projects either wouldn’t have happened or would have failed.”

Some of the top projects Marine City has delivered with support from the Community Foundation include the Marine City Marina Project, Guy Community Center and Bridge-To-Bay trail expansion. Reeves said, “Their behind-the-scenes work to link groups that would otherwise not necessarily have the understanding to work together has not only facilitated some of these projects but has been the reason for their success. Without our local Community Foundation, they potentially would have stopped or would otherwise have failed.”

The Community Foundation’s relationship with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation (RCWJF) has been a game changer for local municipalities with projects identified by community leadership. James Freed, City Manager of Port Huron noted that the RCWJF is the largest discretionary grantor in Port Huron and works closely with the Community Foundation’s coordination and direction. “The Community Foundation has often quietly filled the gaps in some of the largest keynote projects the city has engaged in during the last decade. People can physically see the change in downtown, and the Foundation has played a part in almost all of these projects,” said Freed. He noted the Community Foundation’s role in the community as “critical” and cited The Wrigley Center, McMorran Plaza and Port Huron’s Parks & Recreation improvements as three of the largest areas of impact.

Quentin Bishop agrees with the quantifiable relationship his municipality has benefitted from. “Since January of 2020 our local Community Foundation has provided nearly $900,000 in funding to the City of St. Clair for various projects, which has significantly added value to our quality of life. They have been responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to our trail system, parks, waterfront and beautification projects.”

Jim Tavano, owner of the Hamlin Pub in St. Clair offered other insights to the benefits his business has received in working with the Community Foundation. “We have 11 restaurants, and this is the first time in 35 years of business that I have seen an entity like the Community Foundation bring the customer to the business. The marketing, advertising and other promotions are done for you, especially with the events they host in the St. Clair Plaza. As sports bars, most of our other restaurants see a drop in the summer months, the St. Clair Hamlin Pub sees growth in traffic during the summer.”

Bishop continued his support by remarking on the Community Foundation’s most notable impact project in his city, the St. Clair Riverview Plaza. “The downtown hosts the county’s most successful open-air mall with courtyard space to host countless high-end events. The first organization to solidify the space’s purpose was the Community Foundation’s support to redesign the public courtyard at a cost of more than $800,000,” he said. The Foundation also spent $1,000,000 to rebuild the parking lot around the Riverview Plaza for joint use by the Plaza, St. Clair Inn and Boardwalk Theater.

Impact to St. Clair has been evident in other prized regional assets. More than 715,000 visitors in the last three years have enjoyed the parks during the annual boat races, the 4th of July firework show, art festival, jazz festival and various community groups that utilize the courtyard space to host their special events.

“The bottom line is that the Community Foundation’s funding has helped everyone’s bottom line in the City of St. Clair and throughout our county,” Bishop said.

Job Creation and Local Investments

Independently, the Community Foundation is one of the largest small businesses in downtown Port Huron. It has 10 employees, plus four consultants, buys from local vendors and has an annual operating budget of over $1.7 million. It is also currently spending over $900,000 with local contractors on the redevelopment of its courtyard and building façade in downtown Port Huron.

Matt McCartney, owner of St. Clair Landscaping, a company more than 100 years old, has been contracted by the Community Foundation for numerous local projects. “We have been very blessed to be involved in such transformative developments like the Riverwalk, the Plaza and now the Foundation’s Courtyard. We have a crew of 17 to 22 people at any given time and all of them have worked on these projects over a 20-year span. The Community Foundation helps protect those local jobs.”

Randy Maiers is the President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are a small business, first and foremost,” he said. “What’s unique about our business is we grow long-term community capital through endowment funds so we can make continuous and sustainable investments back into the communities which make up the beautiful Thumb Coast of Michigan.”

Want to know more about the Community Foundation’s direct impact on municipal projects, economic growth and the financial health of St. Clair County communities? Contact Randy Maiers at StClairFoundation.org to discover how you, your family or your business can partner to help us build a stronger, more vibrant St. Clair County.