The Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF) is pleased to announce two new funds benefitting Montcalm County. The Freshwater Solar Community Scholarship Fund and the Freshwater Community Fund were established by Ranger Power’s Freshwater and Freshwater II Solar projects, a combined 300 MW solar facility in Montcalm County’s Day Township. The funds will be permanently endowed with GACF, with the earnings to support the purposes of the funds.
The Freshwater Solar Community Scholarship Fund will provide financial support to local students, with the inaugural scholarships awarded to the Class of 2025. All Montcalm County students are eligible to apply, with preferential consideration given to applicants attending a school district within Day Township or the Village of McBride. To learn more about the scholarship’s eligibility criteria or to apply for the Freshwater Solar Community Scholarship, go to gacfmi.org/scholarships/ to complete an application. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.
The Freshwater Solar Community Fund is a Field of Interest fund established to award grants to support organizations serving the needs of residents of Montcalm County’s Day Township and/or Village of McBride. Grant opportunities will be announced at a later time.
“We are pleased to be a local conduit for Ranger Power’s charitable giving efforts through the Freshwater Solar Project,” said Kristen Kohn, GACF Director of Community Impact. “We look forward to helping support students seeking higher education and nonprofit needs in the east-central part of our county.”
“Supporting the needs of the communities where we operate is a key priority for Ranger Power,” said Paul Harris, co-founder and president of Ranger Power. “Our community-first approach drives us to invest in meaningful ways that advance the education of young people and provide resources that address community needs. We’re proud to partner with GACF to permanently endow these funds, which will support community needs for years to come.”
Ranger Power is a renewable energy development company led by an experienced team of veteran developers and environmental, legal, and interconnection professionals. The Ranger Power team has successfully developed renewable energy projects throughout the United States, including approximately 700 Megawatts of solar projects throughout Michigan that are now operational or under construction. Ranger Power believes in working closely with local communities to develop projects in a collaborative manner. Learn more at rangerpower.com
The mission of the Greenville Area Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in the greater Greenville area. Since its inception in 1989, GACF has grown to encompass the entire Montcalm County area through our geographic affiliates, the Lakeview Area Community Fund and the Montcalm Panhandle Community Fund. To learn more about establishing a named endowment with GACF, contact Alison Barberi at 616-754-2640.
