10/16/2026
FIRST NATIONAL BANK & TRUST ANNOUNCES TWO GRANTS AWARDED TO SUPPORT LOCAL HOUSING INITIATIVES
First National Bank & Trust is proud to announce it will award $36,750 in Community Multiplier grant funds to two local nonprofit groups via the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ Community Multiplier – Member Match program. Community Multiplier – Member Match is a matching grant program available to financial institution members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. The program offers grants of up to $60,000 each with a minimum 25% matching commitment from the member financial institution to target specific affordable housing initiatives. This year’s recipients are Habitat for Humanity Menominee River and Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation reserved for the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance.
Russ Kassin, President and CEO of First National Bank & Trust, explains, “We are extremely proud to partner with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis through its Community Multiplier Member Match program to help secure more than $36,000 in bank donations and grant funding for two deserving local nonprofit organizations—Habitat for Humanity Menominee River and the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, through the Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation. As a community bank with nearly 140 years of service in the area, we believe that investing in the communities we serve is more than a responsibility; it is a fundamental part of who we are. Supporting organizations that strengthen our local communities and create opportunities for continued growth has always been, and will remain, a cornerstone of First National Bank & Trust.”
The local chapter of Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1993 and has since built 52 new homes and averages 25 essential home repairs (roof, furnace, windows, etc.) per year along with accessibility projects like wheelchair ramps to income-eligible homeowners. Habitat also maintains its ReStore in Kingsford which is a home improvement retail outlet for inexpensive building and remodeling materials. They offer appliances, home and office furniture, tools, hardware, paint, electrical and plumbing supplies, building materials like cabinets, flooring, roofing, windows and dimensional lumber and much more. Inventory is constantly changing based on the donations they receive.
One of Habitat for Humanity Menominee River’s initiatives is to provide needed critical or accessibility repairs for income qualified families in Dickinson and Iron Counties. According to Executive Director Kathy Kulas, since there is limited state and federal funding specifically supporting the preservation of owner-occupied mobile homes, the $18,375 grant will be specifically designated for at least three pending repairs.
The Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) Foundation is A 501(c)(3) corporation whose primary mission is to promote and advance economic and workforce development in the Upper Peninsula.
According to Grace Simula, Controller, the money will be used to continue our ongoing housing efforts in the Dickinson County Area such as conducting an updated housing needs assessment, working with local developers to assist housing projects, advocacy for better support programs through the state, helping developers with grant applications, creating property inventory, and educating local communities on available housing tools.
The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance (DAEDA) was established in 2017 to join business, industry, education, government and community organizations to increase awareness and better coordinate economic stimulus in the region.
“We take a business-first approach to economic development and advocacy programs that cultivate a business-friendly environment to support businesses of all sizes,” according to Mindy Urban, Executive Director. “We are working to make the Dickinson area a robust community in which to do business, live, and work. We do this by collaborating with key task force groups comprised of subject matter experts from our investor businesses.”
As a nonprofit economic development organization, the DAEDA places a strong priority on supporting the construction of affordable and attainable housing as a foundation for workforce attraction, business growth, and community stability. The Alliance Infrastructure and Housing Development task force meets monthly and works diligently to ensure housing resources are organized, accessible, and ready to support new development. This includes engaging with regional and state government organizations, identifying infrastructure needs, preparing development opportunities, and coordinating partners so local developers can move viable housing projects forward.
The DAEDA supports local developers by connecting them with state and local housing tools, grant funding opportunities, Land Bank Authority projects, Brownfield redevelopment opportunities, and municipal partners. Actionable steps include conducting an updated housing needs assessment, comparing housing programs in neighboring state-border counties, educating local municipalities on how housing tools and incentives work, updating GIS resources, and outlining sites that are ready for development. Through these efforts, the DAEDA helps developers understand available programs, assemble project resources, identify suitable properties, and advance affordable housing construction that meets Dickinson County’s workforce and community needs.
First National Bank & Trust, founded in 1887, is the largest independent community bank located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There are five banking locations in Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Breitung Township, Iron River and Menominee along with Wealth Management offices in Iron Mountain, Iron River, Menominee and Marquette.
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) Indianapolis is a regional bank within the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to provide access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members’ customers. FHLBanks are privately capitalized and funded, and they receive no congressional appropriations. One of 11 independent regional cooperative banks across the U.S., FHLBank Indianapolis is owned by its Indiana and Michigan financial institution members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions.
