Date: December 11, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Erika Whitehead
269.585.7251
Statement from Kalamazoo Community Foundation on latest House Appropriations Committee vote
Kalamazoo, Mich. – Yesterday, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee voted to cut $645 million in work project funding. These dollars, which had already been allocated by the Legislature and signed into law, were cut as part of an obscure, never-before-used provision in state law that does not require approval from the Senate or the governor to take effect.
As a result of this action, organizations across the state are likely to be affected, including three entities in our own community, here in Kalamazoo County. Those entities include the Ecumenical Senior Center, El Concilio/Hispanic American Council Inc., and Oshtemo Township Fire Station. Across these nonprofits and public entities, this action jeopardizes millions of dollars of critical funding to support the following projects:
- The construction of the Ecumenical Senior Center’s new 16,000 sq. ft. building, which will accommodate up to 200 occupants.
- The advancement of El Concilio’s capital campaign for their direct service center, preschool and youth center.
- The construction of a new fire station in Oshtemo Charter Township.
In addition to cuts affecting the entities outlined above, previously approved resources from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the prenatal and infant support program Rx Kids are believed to be impacted. Rx Kids launched in the City of Kalamazoo in February 2025 and has prescribed over $3 million in cash, enrolled 837 families and seen 659 babies born. As the local fiduciary of the program, Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) is grateful for generous local funding support, which ensures that Kalamazoo Rx Kids will continue to enroll and issue cash prescriptions to pregnant City of Kalamazoo residents.
Please know that our Kalamazoo Community Foundation team is deeply disappointed and significantly concerned by the Michigan House Appropriations Committee’s decision, under the leadership of Speaker Matt Hall. We understand that this decision has far-reaching implications for the residents we aim to serve and protect, and it severely impacts the well-being of all Michiganders. We have written a letter to Speaker Hall, urging him and his colleagues to reconsider the ramifications of this decision and recommit to prioritizing the needs of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents.
KZCF will continue to stay on top of the latest developments regarding this decision by the Michigan House Appropriations Committee. Furthermore, our team remains fully committed to serving the residents of our community and leveraging every resource at our disposal to do so.
To voice your concerns or thoughts, we encourage you to call, email or write Speaker Matt Hall, using the information provided below:
Phone: 517.373.1784
Address: Room H-164, State Capitol, Lansing, MI 48933
About Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Kalamazoo Community Foundation, established in 1925, envisions Kalamazoo County being the most equitable place to live. The mission of the organization, which is to create a thriving community where people, resources and expertise are mobilized to advance racial, social and economic justice in Kalamazoo County informs all funding commitments, community partnerships and projects. Learn more at kzcf.org or connect with us on social media (@kalfound).
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