Government leaders from throughout Van Buren and Cass counties now have a better handle on how to go about seeking grant funding thanks to a session offered by Market One.

Market One’s Julia Wall tells us the group held its fifth annual Municipal Summit in late April, welcoming more than 50 leaders from the two counties to take part in Grant University, a new program that explored best practices when pursuing grants.

“We covered when to pursue grants, how to graft winning proposals, what to expect after approval, and then expert tips to boost your success,” Wall said.

Wall says there were a lot of county leaders on hand, along with township supervisors and village managers. We wondered if the grant landscape has been changing as of late.

“Oh, yes, that’s definitely changed. We’ve seen the landscape change drastically over the last few years from COVID to following COVID. And then now.”

Market One staff covered different aspects of seeking grants, from the very basics to what to do once a grant has been received.

Wall says grants are essential to communities around Southwest Michigan because they create opportunities to make a town more livable and grow the economy.