South Bend nonprofit La Casa de Amistad has won a $100,000 grant from the Lowe’s 100 Hometowns Initiative. The Latino and immigrant focused youth and community center is the only grant winner in Indiana.
As part of the company’s 100-year anniversary, Lowe’s is funding 100 projects across the United States through the 100 Hometowns Initiative.
La Casa de Amistad plans to use the grant as well as volunteer labor from Lowe’s for landscaping and outdoor spaces for their new community center building at 3423 South Michigan Street, executive director Sam Centellas said.
“It’s going to be some of these critical placemaking things like benches, activity areas and patios — even things as basic as making sure you’ve got good bike racks,” Centellas said. “It’s helping a location be a place.”
Centellas said the nonprofit applied for the grant several months ago and was selected after a review period and a site visit.
“We actually had a person through their program come and do a tour, walk through and see what we’re doing, and talk to us about the project,” Centellas said.
He also said there were over 2,000 applications from around the country, and the organization is honored to get the grant.
La Casa de Amistad offers social services and activities including a bilingual preschool and adult English classes.
Contact Jakob at jlazzaro@wvpe.org or follow him on Twitter at @JakobLazzaro.
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