Small town initiatives like The Huss Project work because of the people who come out to support them, Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma said Saturday in Three Rivers.

Vander Giessen-Reitsma, the executive director of *culture is not optional, accepted a $50,000 Hometown Grant from T-Mobile. The money will be used to renovate part of The Huss Project building, 1008 Eighth St. in Three Rivers, for a community bike shop. The shop will be used to further programs including bike-powered community composting and bike repair education.

“Community projects like ours work when people come out to support them,” Vander Giessen-Reitsma said. “Especially in a small town like Three Rivers, that’s what makes the community what it is. We make projects, institutions, and businesses, and we support each other. That’s what builds what we want to see.”

Three Rivers was one of 25 communities across America to receive a $50,000 Hometown Grant from T-Mobile. There were 800 applicants this quarter, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said.

Hometown Grants have been around since spring 2021, Tyler Lewis said. Lewis, T-Mobile’s rural market manager for southwest Michigan, said the grants are part of T-Mobile’s “massive commitment to smaller markets.”

“Over the next five years, T-Mobile is going to continue investing $25 million into projects like we have here today. We want to congratulate The Huss Project in Three Rivers,” Lewis said.

Vander Giessen-Reitsma and Lewis were joined by at-large Three Rivers City Commissioners Lucas Allen and Torrey Brown, as well as Huss Project volunteer Julie Keefer, to accept and recognize the Hometown Grant.

“We’ve been envisioning this community space for more than a decade,” Keefer said. “We’ve had all sorts of donations and visions and partnerships. This is a very substantial one, which can make a seed really blossom. That’s what we’re most excited about.”

Saturday’s Hometown Grant presentation took place alongside the Huss Project Farmers Market. The future community bike shop was also celebrated with a block-long bike parade.

“We’re going to be renovating the one-story section of the building, putting in two glass garage doors and a service entry that is going to help us move bikes and people in and out,” Vander Giessen-Reitsma said. “It’s all going to be accessible and connected to the community.”

Construction will hopefully begin this fall, with programs ideally to begin in spring 2025. Most of the rest of 2024, Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, will be devoted to actually building the bike shop space and developing the upcoming programs.

Diane Ruggles is Three Rivers’ “bike lady,” a mechanic for more than 40 years. She donated more than 40 bikes to The Huss Project, including one used for her own workday commuting.

“I’m excited for them,” Ruggles said. “When I close my toolbox up, I’ll be glad to know there’s another place for people to get their bikes done.”

Frank Stanko is a staff writer with Watershed Voice.