The Van Buren Youth Initiative is Growing!

We have some wonderful news to share regarding the Van Buren Youth Initiative (VBYI). In a recent update to the Board of Commissioners, leaders shared that our local students are seeing more opportunities than ever before thanks to new funding and expanded programs.

This initiative is all about making sure our young people have safe, productive, and fun places to go after the school bell rings.

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Investing in Our Future

The program started in 2024 with an initial investment of $950,000 from the county’s ARPA funds. So far, the county has used $502,559 of those funds to build a strong foundation for our students. This leaves $447,441 to keep these great programs running through the end of 2026.

We are especially proud of the value this program brings to our community. For every $1 of county funding invested, the initiative has already generated $1.11 in return. This shows that our commitment to local youth is a very wise investment for every taxpayer.

Big Wins with State Funding

One of the most exciting parts of this update is how our local investment is bringing even more money into Van Buren County. Because of the success of the VBYI, the Van Buren Intermediate School District (VBISD) was awarded a massive $1,012,860 32n Out-of-School Time (OST) Grant. This grant was provided by MiLEAP, which is the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

This is a huge win for our families! This money will help expand after-school programs in eight of our local school districts:

• Bloomingdale
• Decatur
• Gobles
• Hartford
• Lawrence
• Lawton
• Mattawan
• South Haven

It also provides vital support for our Summer Van Buren Migrant and Multilingual Program, ensuring every student has a seat at the table during the school year and the summer months.

Bringing the Arts and Technology to Our Schools

We are also thrilled to share that our students are receiving support from several different organizations. A $16,000 grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, along with a $12,000 arts grant from the prior year, will bring local artists directly to our students. By partnering with the South Haven Center for the Arts, the initiative will host hands-on workshops in music and visual arts.

Our students are also getting a boost in the classroom thanks to a $10,000 Technology and Media Equipment Grant from the South Haven Area Community Foundation. This is a special opportunity for students in our rural areas to explore their creativity and use modern tools to learn.

Why It Matters: Hearing from the Students

The best part of this news is the impact it has on the kids. Students are already sharing how much they love these programs. They told us that the initiative gives them a sense of “freedom of art” and a place to “meet new people.” Most importantly, it gives them something positive to look forward to every single day.

Working Together for Our Community

Program leader Erin Kucharski highlighted that the secret to this success is teamwork. She noted that the program coordinator acts as a “connector” between the school districts and our community partners. By working together, we make sure that no resources are wasted and that every student can participate, no matter their budget or where they live.

We are so proud of the progress being made for our youth and look forward to seeing these programs continue to flourish!