All Michigan residents deserve a safe, affordable community in which to live and work. That’s why the
Consumers Energy Foundation—the charitable arm of our company—awards grants to nonprofit
organizations working to revitalize neighborhoods, reduce blight, and create safe and affordable housing
for Michiganders.
One organization doing exactly that is Metro Community Development (Metro), a Flint-based nonprofit
committed to growing economic opportunities in Genesee County by creating, preserving and financing
affordable housing and assisting first-time home buyers through education and counseling services. As a
financial institution, Metro also provides investment capital and financial services for individuals and
businesses who may experience barriers to funding offered by traditional financial institutions.
With the support of a $250,000 Prosperity Award from our Foundation, Metro is transforming blighted
houses in Flint into move-in-ready homes for eligible first-time buyers.
The Prosperity Award supported the implementation of Back@Home, a single-family home acquisition
and rehabilitation program. Metro acquires dilapidated houses through the Genesee County Land Bank
and private sales, and then works with building contractors to renovate the homes for resale.
Meanwhile, through its credit and home buyer education counseling services, Metro is able to prepare
and prequalify potential buyers.
Metro has completed seven homes since launching the program in 2019.
Despite this success, the program hasn’t been without its challenges. Lack of inventory of available
homes, as well as lengthy inspection timelines and supply chain delays have all impacted the initiative.
“Initially, we were focused on one neighborhood, but due to inventory challenges we’ve expanded our
scope to homes across Flint. We look at every home marketed by the Land Bank,” said Brian Glowiak,
CEO of Metro. “We search for homes that may be the only dilapidated structure on that block and have
completed several homes following that formula, positively impacting those neighborhoods.”
Residents need only walk or drive by to see the impact of the Back@Home program firsthand. Just a few
years ago, a large Craftsman-style home on Flint’s north side, the first renovated through this program,
displayed boarded windows and a crumbling façade. Today, the home is beautifully restored. The
homeowner has since purchased two neighboring lots, further improving the area.
While Glowiak and his staff keep their eyes peeled for additional properties to renovate, Metro is hard
at work on its other community development programs. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of
Indianapolis, Metro provides home improvement grants of up to $10,000 each to homeowners for
urgently-needed home repairs. Last year, Metro provided nearly $600,000 in home improvement grants.
This program, in addition to Metro’s other services, has uniquely positioned the organization to
successfully implement the Back@Home program.
“While we’re renovating homes, we’re also able to prepare new homeowners through our counseling
services, and offer mortgages to eligible buyers,” says Glowiak. “Everyone is invested in the success of
the program throughout the entire process.”
Through these programs, Metro is working to convert renters to homeowners, stabilize property values,
reduce blight, and revitalize distressed neighborhoods.
Learn more about Metro Community Development’s services at
Learn more about the Consumers Energy Foundation’s Prosperity Awards.
