Author

Al Jones

Al Jones

Al Jones is a freelance writer who has worked for many years as a reporter, editor, and columnist. He is the Project Editor for On the Ground Kalamazoo.

Al Jones's Latest Articles

LISC Kalamazoo is looking for area nonprofits that may qualify for community development funds

LISC-Kalamazoo will be the conduit for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding through the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 4 Program. “HUD Section 4 is a specific pool of money to increase nonprofits’ capacity to do their work in specific areas,” says Beth Romeo, the assistant program officer at LISC Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo is set to celebrate Juneteenth 2022 with song, dance, and fireworks

Soul Artistry has worked with more than a dozen area organizations to compile a list of  this year’s events celebrating Juneteenth in Kalamazoo.

The LodgeHouse: Small, long-term rental units are scheduled for a big late-June opening in Kalamazoo

If all continues as planned, spaces for at least 60 unhoused individuals will be open by late June. The studio apartments in The LodgeHouse are intended for those with extremely low incomes currently living in a place that is not fit for human habitation,  outdoors, in their car, or living in a hotel that they can’t afford.

Changes suggested after second Black candidate is nearly dropped from ballot in Kalamazoo County

Tami Rey has been certified to run for re-election to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. But those who support her wonder about an election system that – for the second time in less than a year – was poised to exclude an African-American from contention because of apparent mistakes in their paperwork.

The second session of training for Black entrepreneurs is under way in Kalamazoo

Sisters in Business Michigan and Black Wall Street Kalamazoo are working to increase the access African-American entrepreneurs and their businesses have the funding and training they need.

Kalamazoo’s Northside Association for Community Development focuses on homeownership, skill training

NACD in Kalamazoo plans to begin the construction this year of four single-family houses on what are now vacant parcels of land as part of the neighborhood’s plan to see an increase in the amount of affordable housing as well as an increase in home ownership and business ownership.

Behind the scenes: A process for developing, improving housing goes into place in Kalamazoo County

What does it take to get to a point where housing projects funded by Kalamazoo County millage dollars can be approved? Here's a quick peek at some of the process needed to get the work done.

Temporary housing PODs have been built. Kalamazoo agency seeks a suitable site for them.

“We’ve learned that we are held to timelines beyond our control -- pandemics, supply chains, logistics, site availability, funding,” says Michelle Davis, Executive Director of Housing Resources Inc. as they work to establish a community in Kalamazoo of temporary, longer-lasting housing “pods” for those without houses. 

Entrepreneur Jamauri Bogan, left, and Margy Belchak, of Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, we’re among representatives of housing projects to attend the April 5, 2022 meeting of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.
Kalamazoo County Board OKs another $2.6 million to build, renovate, support 11 more housing projects

Efforts to provide more needed housing in Kalamazoo County continue as members of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners recently approved a total of $2.6 million in funding to support planned residential projects. When completed the projects approved should add about 115 new housing units, and another 30 existing properties would be rehabilitated.  

Let there be more light, say resident-empowerment groups working together in Kalamazoo

Residents of Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood are working to enhance the neighborhood, by shining light on problems that need attention and working to fix them -- literally. And they are working with Building Blocks Kalamazoo to make it happen.

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