Author

Sarah Spohn

Sarah Spohn is a Lansing native, but every day finds a new interesting person, place, or thing in towns all over Michigan, leaving her truly smitten with the mitten. She received her degrees in journalism and professional communications and provides coverage for various publications locally, regionally, and nationally — writing stories on small businesses, arts and culture, dining, community, and anything Michigan-made. You can find her in a record shop, a local concert, or eating one too many desserts at a bakery. If by chance, she’s not at any of those places, you can contact her at sarahspohn@issuemediagroup.com.

Sarah Spohn's Latest Articles

Elevate grants help small Michigan businesses level up

Although headquartered in Indiana, the FHLBank of Indianapolis provides access to grant programs and resources for small businesses throughout Michigan. The Elevate Grant aims to generate more economic opportunity for all, and helps small businesses like Mushroom House Tours in Charlevoix and The Poke Bowl in Flint to level up.  

A family poses in front of their ICCF community land trust home.
Community land trusts make home ownership possible for more Michiganders

Michigan has a huge housing shortage. To address this need, many communities are utilizing community land trusts, like ICCF, to ensure affordable homeownership for generations to come.   

Corktown Health staff
CDFI funding helps Corktown Health expand services for Detroit area’s LGBTQ residents

Corktown Health has evolved and grown from offering end-of-life services during the HIV/AIDS epidemic to providing primary care for the LGBTQ community. Through financial support from IFF, and through partnerships with local organizations including MiGen, the health network continues to provide a life-changing impact on the patients it serves.   

Greek Week 2024: Bridging campus and community for a greater good

The Mt. Pleasant community is gearing up for Greek Week, a collaborative effort between Central Michigan University (CMU) and United Way, benefiting local nonprofits. This year's focus is on the B#4 Foundation, promoting mental health awareness. With various events such as fundraisers, service activities, and a mock-rock competition, Greek Week aims to raise funds while fostering community engagement.

Schools work together to address teacher housing shortage

Organizations, nonprofits, developers, and school personnel are working to address the teacher housing shortage head-on. A group of local Northern Michigan schools have banded together to form an educational consortium to address the issue and create a model of future educator housing developments near Traverse City.

John Fuse, Community Health Worker with the Berrien County Health Department, stands outside the department’s building in Benton Harbor.
Community Health Workers: Michigan’s public health messengers

Community health workers perform essential roles in delivering physical and mental health care and increasing health care access for Michigan residents. 

Rendering of Sawmill Lofts in Grayling
Recent Michigan housing legislation incentivizes more housing developments

As part of the Make it in Michigan Strategy, the state of Michigan has new finance tools and opportunities to convert vacant land into housing via the Transformational Brownfield Fund and tax increment funding. The State Land Bank Authority and Michigan Community Capital are working with state, local, and federal organizations to develop attainable workforce housing in their communities.   

Melvin Henley
Growing Michigan Together Council addresses housing and other concerns across the state

Established by Governor Whitmer, the Growing Michigan Together Council works to develop a long-term plan of action to address many issues of concern across the state. Different goals include jobs, talent, and people; infrastructure and places; PreK-12 and higher education, and revenue. Block by Block spoke with the Executive Director of the Growing Michigan Together Council and Michigan’s first Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe, and Melvin Henley at Community Economic Development Association of Michigan to hear about the council’s report.   

Chris Uhl
What’s next for housing in Kent and Ottawa counties

As Kent County grows faster than the rest of the state, the community looks at ways to address its ongoing housing shortages. Through government entities, upcoming developers like Housing Next, and seasoned community development financial institutions like IFF, Grand Rapids has a collaborative plan in place to address the issue.   

A completed home repair in Genesee County.
FHLBank of Indianapolis home repair programs make life-changing impacts on homeowners

The FHLBank of Indianapolis provides impactful resources for communities in Michigan and provides home repair programs and additional resources to homeowners via lenders like1st State Bank in Saginaw and Metro Community Development Corporation in Flint.

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