In an effort to continue to grow sustainable support streams to further our work, the READ team is delighted to share that we've been selected as a top grant awardee from MACAE's Adult Literacy Opportunity Fund.
This investment into our work will allow READ to not only maintain our efforts, but to scale appropriately to meet the growing learner base in the Holland and Zeeland communities. We're grateful for this support that will further READ's mission to provide Ottawa County adults with an opportunity to improve and transform their lives by strengthening their reading and language skills.
An excerpt from the MACAE press release:
The Michigan Adult, Community, and Alternative Education Association (MACAE) is proud to announce the recipients of the Adult Literacy Opportunity Fund (ALOF). This fund is aimed at advancing adult literacy and education initiatives across Michigan.
The Adult Literacy Opportunity Fund was established in 2023 as a special program grant put forward by State Representative Will Snyder, as part of the adult education budget for the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). ALOF addresses the critical need for adult education and literacy funding at the state level for non-profit 501(c)3 organizations.
In the state of Michigan, more than 1 in 6 adults, or 17.6%, are identified as low literacy, meaning that they read at a 4th grade reading level or lower, according to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Adult literacy rates also show a direct correlation to the local economy. In 2023, the median income in low literacy counties was $42,867 compared to $54,938 statewide. Low literacy also results in higher poverty rates and higher unemployment.
"As a State Representative, I have made promoting adult literacy education a priority of mine. From my time serving on the board of Read Muskegon, I saw firsthand the effects of illiteracy on my community," said Representative Snyder, Chair of Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Economic Development, and Lifelong Learning. "I firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn at any stage of life, and the Adult Literacy Opportunity Fund will provide that option for many in our state. MACAE is a leader on this issue, and I commend them for all the hard work they are doing in this space."
After a rigorous review process, MACAE, as the grant administrator, has selected 29 organizations as grantees for this one time funding. These organizations have demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing adult literacy and education in their communities, proposing innovative programs and initiatives that promise to make a meaningful impact. Through this grant, these organizations will serve 950 adult learners to meet benchmarks such as improving their English level, improving reading or writing skills, earning their GED, among others.
“We applaud and congratulate the Michigan Adult, Community and Alternative Education Association for their ongoing commitment to helping historically underrepresented and marginalized populations in our state,” said Susan Corbin, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “MACAE’s efforts to support nonprofit adult education programs and literacy services are perfectly aligned with our all-access approach to closing equity gaps, educating Michiganders and growing the middle class by removing barriers to employment.”
To continue reading, please find the full press release here: https://macae.org/alof/
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