Muskegon Area Promise Zone Authority Board

Muskegon Area Promise Zone Authority Board Meeting Dates

All meetings are held at 7:30 a.m. at the MAISD Educational Services Center Board Room, 630 Harvey Street, Muskegon, MI 49442

September 30, 2009 October 14, 2009 November 11, 2009 January 13, 2010 February 10, 2010 March 10, 2010

April 14, 2010 May 12, 2010 June 9, 2010 July 14, 2010 August 12, 2010

Muskegon Area Promise Zone Authority Board Meeting Minutes

September 30, 2009

MAISD Named One of Ten Promise Zones

Also see Press Release

The promise of a college education for all children in our community is an exciting idea. The recently passed "Michigan Promise Zone Act" has provided a rare opportunity for ten communities within the state to strive to become "Promise Zones." The purpose of a Promise Zone is to support local efforts to promise a college education to K-12 students who reside within the zone.

To begin the process of establishing a Promise Zone within the MAISD boundaries, the ISD held a public hearing and adopted a resolution to declare its intentions. The resulting application has now been approved by the Department of Treasury.  A governing board will convene and will spend time conducting research, planning, and evaluating the potential to raise the private dollars that must fund the Promise Zone for the first two years. After the second year of distributing privately funded scholarships, a certified Promise Zone can then capture one-half of the growth in the state education tax to be used for a two-year associate's degree or up to a four-year degree for resident students.

For the past two years a group of education and community leaders called "Muskegon Opportunity" has explored the possibility of a collaborative community-wide effort to expand the post secondary educational opportunities for all of our children. The MAISD will work closely with Muskegon Opportunity as it examines the feasibility of raising the funds necessary to offer the promise of college.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Promise Zone

1. How will funding for the Promise Zone be generated?

The funding must be generated by private donations the first two years. After the second year of distributing privately funded scholarships, a certified Promise Zone can then capture one-half of the growth in the state education tax.

2. Who will be in charge of raising the money needed to establish the Promise Zone?

An 11-member board will create a development plan that will include how the funds necessary to accomplish the promise of financial assistance will be raised.

3. How long does our community have to generate the required private funding?

There is no set time table. The plan that the board develops will address this issue. The planning process may take a year.

4. What will happen if our community cannot raise the necessary private funds to pay for the first two years of college scholarships?

The MAISD would notify the Department of Treasury that this is the case and the Promise Zone would then become available for another community to apply for.

5. Will the dollars needed to finance the Promise Zone take money away from the K-12 funding?

Yes, as it is drawn from one-half of the growth in the state education tax - money that now supports public education. Regardless of whether or not Muskegon is involved, the state education tax will be captured and applied to one of the ten Promise Zone communities.

6. Is the actual wording for the Promise Zone Act available online?

Yes. Michigan Promise Zone Authority - Act 549   and  Act 550 of 2008.