United Way of Southwest Michigan receives $912,000 in federal funding to expand Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail
United Way of Southwest Michigan, representing a large coalition of partners including local municipalities, received $912,000 for the development of the first section of an 8-mile extension to an existing non-motorized 17-mile trail network, called the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail. The funds will cover final design, engineering, and grade inspection for the section of the expansion through the City of Niles and Niles Township.
The trail currently connects Michiana communities starting at Plym Park in Niles, passes along the St. Joseph River, and connects with a network of urban trails running through South Bend and Mishawaka.
This past December, the federal 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden. More than $23 million of it was allocated to United Way community project funding through congressionally directed spending requests in the bill. United Way Worldwide staff provided training and assistance that helped the 26 United Ways receive this funding. The involvement of retired U.S. Rep. Fred Upton was crucial to securing the funding.
Collective impact, such as the work that resulted in this funding, happens when a group of organizations commits to addressing a community-wide issue that cannot be solved alone. It means adopting a new way of working by bringing nonprofits, governments, businesses, and the public together around a common agenda. Collective impact can produce large-scale change in ways that other forms of collaboration and individual efforts have not. United Way of Southwest Michigan engages in six collective impact efforts—one of them is Be Healthy Berrien, a countywide partnership working to reduce obesity by creating healthy places to live, work, learn, and play. Be Healthy Berrien was instrumental in pursuing funding for the expansion of the project.
“A multi-stakeholder partnership and collaboration has led this project from the beginning, including partners from government, nonprofit, and community advocates,” said Dawn Marie Smith, Director of Be Healthy Berrien. “This project has a great foundation and successful record of moving forward. Work on the existing 17-mile trail began in 2008, and we’ve been working on this expansion project since 2019—with site selection, community engagement, property searches, environmental studies, etc.—and have made steady progress.”
According to the Marcy Hamilton, Deputy Executive Director/Senior Planner at the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, this project has robust community support, demonstrated by how well-used the existing trail is and by favorable on-record public support to Berrien County and local municipalities for the trail.
“The economic, health, and quality-of-life benefits of non-motorized trails as well as the broad regional scope of the project make this a strong community priority,” Smith said.
ABOUT BE HEALTHY BERRIEN
Be Healthy Berrien is a county-wide initiative that aims to reduce and prevent obesity in Berrien County. Be Healthy Berrien was created in 2010 by a call-to-action from the Healthy Berrien Consortium to address the issue of obesity in Berrien County. United Way of Southwest Michigan serves as the backbone support agency and fiduciary for the Be Healthy Berrien initiative.
ABOUT UNITED WAY
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community's longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy, and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.