The Great Lakes Discovery Center of Traverse City, Grand Traverse County
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay
Great Lakes Children’s Museum
Maritime Heritage Alliance
Traverse Area Community Sailing

TYPE OF GRANT
All five of Rotary’s grant options have been awarded to the Discovery Center by Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps & Services in recent years.  These include:

• Capital Projects
• Program Grant
• Organizational Capacity Building Grant
• Organizational Capacity Building Planning and Assessment Grant
• Capital Planning Grant

In addition, NorthSky NonProfit Network has provided capacity consulting which includes:

• Crafting a strategic partnership agreement
• Facilitating transition from a Rotary Camps & Service Board to a tenant-based board
• Developing a natural resources site plan
• Creating a revenue diversification model
• Conducting a community needs assessment for the master site plan

 

AWARDED
June 2007 – $38,877 Grand Traverse Bay Alliance facilities and site planning grant
2008 – $88,000 planning and implementation grant
2008 – $38,000 facilities and site planning
2009 – $50,000 site communications, joint programming, technology plan
2010 – $20,000 site master plan

TOTAL LEVERAGE
Joint planning projects by the Discovery Center’s four members have resulted in developing signage, communications and technology plans, and brand identity for the complex located alongside M-22 and close to the newly developed Greilickville Harbor Park.  The Watershed Center has directly leveraged Rotary grants to raise millions of dollars for its EPA-approved Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan, while thousands of the Northwest’s youngsters learn from the creative and stimulating displays at the Children’s Museum.  TACS provides hands-on affordable sailing opportunities for youth and adults, as well as the developmentally disabled.  And the MHA promotes and preserves the history of Great Lakes wooden vessels with their construction and restoration.  An indirect leverage has been the collaborative financial and business planning among the Center’s occupants, which has led to a proposed marina project just across M-22 and on West Bay.  Finding safe marina passage across the highway is a priority.  Key support from Rotary Camps & Services and the local Sunrise Rotary Club (see below) have been crucial to the Center’s development.

SUMMARY
One of the most unique facilities of its kind on the Great Lakes, the Discovery Center’s brand continues to grow with a combination of recognition raising events, strategic collaborations, and offerings of diverse programs focusing on the environment, education, water and sustainability of the Great Lakes and sprawling 1,000 square mile Grand Traverse Bay Watershed.

COMMUNITY NEED
With increased worldwide focus on dwindling freshwater and the proximity of Northwestern Michigan College’s nationally recognized Maritime Academy and Water Studies Institute, the Discovery Center’s mission is more relevant now than ever.  Arguably, its work connects local concerns and issues with the world.

Andy Knott, Executive Director of The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay

 

 

 

 

“What I see…..”

“The grants have allowed us any number of profile raising opportunities, the most recent of which is the $2.2 million package from the federal government to install improved runoff filtration systems in Suttons Bay and Traverse City, and to manage Boardman River sediment amid the removal of two dams.

“We’re also proud of our regular Art at the Watershed series, attended by anywhere from 50 to 150 people.  This type of exposure has been tremendous in increasing our visibility and public awareness of what we do.”

 

John Noonan, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Children’s Museum

 

 

 

 

“What I see…..”

“The Discovery Center represents a real adaptive use of existing buildings, not unlike what Ray Minervini and his group have done at Building 50/Grand Traverse Commons.

“We (Children’s Museum) took a building that was half garage and the other half marina storage, and adapted it, while blurring the property lines of what could be.

“The future holds the opportunity of working with Elmwood Township, Dr. Steve Kozelko,  Michigan Department of Transportation and Traverse City Light & Power, and developing the marina property across the highway.  It’s a unique public/private partnership opportunity that we need to leverage.  As a social enterprise venture, it will lend sustainability to the site and its partners.

“Rotary Camps & Services and the Sunrise Rotary Club are key partners in building support for our ongoing momentum….”

 

George Prewitt, Water Committee Chair of the Sunrise Rotary Club

 

 

 

 

 

“What I see…..”

“My involvement with water started in 2004 when I joined Rotary and its water committee, and participated in its work bees.

“Today our club has a freshwater focus that’s both domestic and international.  We recently hosted an open house at the Discovery Center and have constructed a bio sand water filter (a Rotary International project) at the site.  This was made possible by a $500 club project and corresponding Rotary Charities’ matching grant.

“We also participate in regular work bees at the Center.”