Jennifer Bowman, Battle Creek Enquirer The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority said 200 lots in Battle Creek were mowed in the first year of its Neighborhood Mow and Maintenance Program.
The program allowed participating organizations — Battle Creek Griffon Rugby Football Club, Southwest Michigan Community Impact Association, Golden Star Temple #951, Project Hope Ministries and Second Missionary Baptist Church — to earn funding for community efforts by maintaining vacant properties owned by the land bank, according to a news release.
It helped Southwest Michigan Community Impact Association pay for legal filings and helped the Griffon Rugby Football Club sponsor community activities, the release said.
Calhoun County Treasurer Christine Schauer, who also is chairperson of the land bank board, said in February that participating groups that mowed and maintained 20 vacant properties once every three weeks would earn a seasonal stipend of $3,000.
Contact Jennifer Bowman at 269-966-0589 or jbowman@battlecreekenquirer.com.