Mel Trotter Ministries receives $800K grant for expansion

Mel Trotter Ministries receives $800K grant for expansion
Mel Trotter Ministries' Lowell Thrift Store. <strong> Courtesy Mel Trotter Ministries </strong>

A local nonprofit earned an economic development grant to expand its footprint in West Michigan.

Mel Trotter Ministries, the largest provider of services to people experiencing homelessness in West Michigan, said Tuesday, Nov. 29, its thrift store division received an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

The grant will be used to expand the number of Mel Trotter Thrift store operations in Kent and Ottawa counties and add 32 full- and part-time jobs. 

Mel Trotter Thrift is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mel Trotter Ministries and is one of the main social enterprises financially supporting the operations of the ministry’s homeless shelter. There are currently five Mel Trotter Thrift locations in Kent County, as well as one in Ottawa County. 

The addition of this grant from HHS will allow the nonprofit to add three new stores to its roster, along with a new distribution warehouse. 

The grant application was supported by federal and local elected leaders, including U.S. Representative Peter Meijer and Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.  

“I couldn’t be happier for Mel Trotter Thrift and our residents who shop and work at the stores,” Bliss said. “Mel Trotter has partnered with the city of Grand Rapids in addressing homelessness for 122 years. This grant is a win-win and will allow Mel Trotter to further its services to the residents in our area while boosting the overall economy.”  

Mel Trotter Thrift stores sell gently used clothing, shoes, toys, books, furniture, small appliances and household items that are donated to over 30 drop-off bins in West Michigan. The proceeds from the thrift stores support the operations of programs such as transitional housing, case management, overnight shelters for men, women, youth and families, workforce development, medical outreach and more. 

“Two years ago, our board of directors affirmed the organizational goal of generating 70% of its income from sources other than charitable gifts by 2030,” said Dennis Van Kampen, president and CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries. “Our thrift store division is an integral part in achieving that objective. Beyond that, the grant will allow us to hire more than 30 people, generating economic growth in the way of personal income and retail sales.”  

This is the second economic development grant Mel Trotter Ministries received through the Administration of Children and Families, a division of HHS. In 2021, Next Step of West Michigan, another wholly-owned subsidiary and social enterprise of Mel Trotter, was awarded $525,000 to expand its current operations and create 21 new, sustainable, livable-wage jobs for low-income individuals.

This story can be found in the Dec. 12 issue of the Grand Rapids Business Journal. To get more stories like this delivered to your mailbox, subscribe here.