A micro-granting and community dinner concept pioneered in Detroit is making its debut in Pontiac this month with the first Detroit Soup community potluck. Organizers are now taking submissions for projects to be funded from a community pot at the event.

Organizer Scott Stewart moved to Pontiac last year to take his first job out of college at Central Michigan at the Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network, where he serves as marketing and development manager. The Troy native chose to call Pontiac home to be close to his job and is now actively discovering the community.

"If I'm going to be working in a community, I might as well live in it," says Stewart. He first pitched the idea for Pontiac Soup after speaking with groups of entrepreneurs in the city. "They all said 'That's something that we would want, something that will get people started, and get ideas out there.' I said, 'Well, perfect!'."

Detroit Soup launched in 2010. The concept helps lift grassroots projects by providing seed funding contributed by the community. For a small door fee, attendees participate in a community potluck dinner while receiving project pitches from a preselected group of community leaders. After pitches are complete, attendees vote, and a winner is selected, receiving the total amount collected at the door.

Since its inception, Detroit Soup has $132,687 over 151 dinners, according to its website. Projects have run the gamut from urban agriculture to community radio to the construction of benches for city bus stops.

Submissions to Pontiac Soup can be made here.