New Grant Alert: Recycling-Related Grants Open with Cook Family Foundation in Shiawassee County
LionBear Ventures Can Help!
September 2, 2025 - The Cook Family Foundation, in partnership with the Shiawassee County Recycling Workgroup, has unveiled the next steps of creating a more sustainable future for residents, businesses, and non-profits, by opening up a new round of recycling-related grant opportunities. This program is designed to fund projects that advance sustainable material management and align with Michigan’s new, updated in 2022 Part 115 Law. Interested nonprofits, businesses, and community groups in the Shiawassee greater area can benefit from the community powered-action and be a part of meaningful change with help from LionBear Ventures.
Why Recycling and Waste Management Matters in Michigan
There’s a strong backdrop for local innovation on the sustainable management of materials in Michigan. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced in April that Michigan had a record high 25% recycling rate with more than $11.8 Million in recycling grants. The additional grants, thanks in part to the Cook Family Foundation, offer a solid launching pad for more programs in recycling education, composting infrastructure, waste reduction, and market development, all of which can create a more sustainable future, more job opportunities, and a better-informed public.
You can read more about the initial project in our previous post: A Community-Driven Success for a More Sustainable Future.
LionBear Ventures Core Values In Action
FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT: LionBear Ventures CEO Ashley Connelly helped catalyze the Shiwassee Community Recycling Workgroup from the beginning. Connelly steered the recycling strategy by connecting 22 local partners at the beginning of this project to help collaborate within the lines of the new Part 115 Law goals.
STRATEGIC PLACEMENT: LionBear Ventures also guided Resourceful Recycling with the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce into the NextCycle Michigan Accelerator program. This helped the organizations increase their impact and find additional resource access in their field.
PREVIOUS WORK WINS: One of LionBear Ventures’ core values and missions is creating a more sustainable future for Michiganders. Previously working with leaders like Caleb Rutledge of Goodwill's Greenworks Detroit, LionBear Ventures has been navigating the grant landscape and mobilizing partnerships to position businesses for successful outcomes.
How LionBear Ventures Can Help Small Businesses and Nonprofits with Grant Writing
If your organization would like to tap into the new Cook Family Foundation’s recycling grants, but you aren’t sure where to start, LionBear Ventures is here to help!
Grant Application Support - From concept to proposal, our team knows what founders are looking for in recycling and sustainable material plans. We will be able to coach you in the right direction while digging around to find the best plan to move forward for your success in grant application.
Project Design & Strategy - We bring cross-sector experience in developing programs that emphasize our core values like environmental impact, equity, and local economic benefits, bringing improvements to the counties, cities, and townships we reside in.
Network Access - LionBear Ventures is well connected throughout the state of Michigan and beyond - specifically in the recycling industry - including accelerators, agencies, and foundations, where we can help match you with the correct collaborators and technical assistance contacts in the field.
Actionable Steps for Interested Groups in Recycling Grants in Michigan
1 - Check out the Cook Family Foundation Recycling Grant Details!
2 - Reach out to LionBear Ventures (below in the form here) and discuss your project idea and get help developing a strong, fundable proposal.
3 - Come hang out at an upcoming application workshop or information session, or work directly with us to co-design your submission.
4 - Apply! Once funded, you will be able to explore scalable partnerships, which can include state or accelerator match funding, too.
Grant writing doesn’t have to seem overwhelming or unbearable. With the right support, together we can take the next step in Michigan’s future by turning community vision into a sustainable, impactful program.
