Consumers Energy Foundation Announces $125,000 Grant To State Theatre To Celebrate Company's 125th Anniversary

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumers Energy Foundation announced today that it has awarded a $125,000 grant to support the restoration of the historic State Theatre in downtown Traverse City.

The grant was presented to the Traverse City Film Festival, led by Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, during a ceremony at the theater.

"When I first moved to Traverse City, I felt bad every time I drove by the shuttered and closed theater," said Moore. "Now, thanks to Consumers Energy and an extraordinary community of volunteers, the theater is a vibrant community center that is better than new, and ready to stand another 100 years, a place where future generations can come and enjoy the magic of the movies, together."

The Traverse City grant is part of $1.25 million in matching grants offered to 10 community projects throughout Michigan as part of Consumers Energy's 125th anniversary celebration. It was used to renovate the exterior of the theater, including replacing all of the red panels and stainless steel columns originally installed after a 1948 fire destroyed the theater.

David Mengebier, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation, applauded Moore and the Film Festival for restoring the theater, which has led to a resurgence of the downtown area.

"This great theater has been a catalyst for attracting new businesses and restaurants to the downtown area," Mengebier said. "Consumers Energy has been honored to help preserve historic buildings like the State Theatre during our 125-year record of service to the people of Michigan."

The projects selected for the $125,000 matching grants include:

Bay City – The Bay Commitment College Resource Center, which helps Bay County students and their parents apply for college and for financial assistance. 

Saginaw – The Saginaw Community Foundation successfully raised matching dollars to support the restoration of the city's Deindorfer Woods Park.

Lansing – The Michigan Nonprofit Association. The grant supports the development of the Nonprofit Center at the Armory.

Flint – The Community Foundation of Greater Flint will support the Flint/Genesee County Green and Healthy Homes Initiative. The challenge grant will support an effort to repair or replace the roofs of the homes of low-income families.

Grand Rapids – The West Michigan Sports Commission.  The grant will support the construction of a 12-field sports complex in Rockford.

Jackson – The Energizing Education Project, previously called the Partnership Park Neighborhood Planning Project.  The grant supports educational system improvements in the city of Jackson.

Kalamazoo – The Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity.  The grant supports the organization's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, which targets an effort to meet housing needs in distressed neighborhoods.

Muskegon – The Muskegon Retail Incubator, formerly known as the Russell Block Market program. This will foster opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop sustainable retail businesses in downtown Muskegon.

Pontiac – The Lighthouse of Oakland County.  The grant supports the renovation of the headquarters for the organization, which helps struggling families move to self-sufficiency and independence.

In 2011, Consumers Energy, its employees, retirees, the Consumers Energy Foundation, and the utility's parent company, CMS Energy, contributed more than $3.8 million to Michigan nonprofit organizations.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit its website at: www.consumersenergy.com/foundation

SOURCE Consumers Energy