Focus Area Overview

Mass transit plans have been debated in greater Detroit for years. With the support of private-sector partners, the city and other collaborators, we have invested in the first leg of light-rail service that promises to spur residential and commercial development along lower Woodward Avenue. 

Intended to run from downtown Detroit to the city’s North End and beyond, the construction of the initial three-quarter-mile leg of the M-1 Rail is scheduled to begin early next year.

We believe a well-run regional mass transit system is one of the keys to building a healthy economy. We hope philanthropic and other private financing will leverage funding to build the entire nine-mile Detroit segment of the project.

With potential links to Pontiac, Ann Arbor, Chicago and other locations north and west, the M-1 could drive growth, connect metro Detroiters to jobs and create new centers of employment in the city.

The project complements other Detroit initiatives, including our focus on anchor institutions and sustainability.

Our Funding Process

Our Detroit team members are deeply engaged in the community and make every effort to be aware of emerging and ongoing initiatives with potential to accomplish the community’s goals.

The Detroit Program periodically offers open grant opportunities to organizations within a certain sector.

We recommend staying  in touch though email subscription, RSS, or social media to learn about those opportunities.