Hundreds of volunteers came together during the summer of 2011 to help fix 75 occupied homes as part of the Great Lakes Bay Neighborhood Revitalization Project. The project was led by The Dow Chemical Company, Habitat for Humanity and the three local community foundations.

“Last year’s neighborhood revitalization was an unprecedented example of Midland, Bay City and Saginaw stakeholders coming together to improve quality of life for the entire region,” said Jeff Martin, community relations leader for The Dow Chemical Company.

Nine organizations, businesses and individuals gave $25,000 to the project. Dow matched with another $25,000, the Saginaw Community Foundation, along with the Bay Area Community Foundation and the Midland Area Community Foundation, granted $25,000 each toward the project.

In Saginaw, volunteers worked alongside Saginaw Habitat for Humanity to revitalize the Northmoor neighborhood, bordered by State St., Weiss St., Bay St. and N. Mason St.

“We pulled together to improve 33 homes here in Saginaw,” said Reneé Johnston, president & CEO, Saginaw Community Foundation. “It caused a ripple effect. People were out working on their own homes and yards when they saw all the work we were doing for their neighbors.”