Flint, MI— The Genesee County Land Bank Authority recently launched its 20th year of the Clean and Green cleanup program.
According to a press release from the land bank, from April to September 2024, 66 community groups will clean up and maintain 3,500 vacant properties in and around Flint every three weeks.
Each group receives a stipend for maintaining at least 25 properties during the three weeks. Six new groups were selected to participate this year; the other 60 are returning.
“Residents can anticipate seeing an impact as Clean and Green volunteers clean, clear, and beautify neighborhoods across the city of Flint,” the release stated. “Residents are encouraged to connect with local Clean and Green volunteers to support the fight against blight efforts.”
Since 2004, Clean and Green has been a program of the Genesee County Land Bank that aims to support community groups in cleaning and maintaining otherwise vacant properties in Genesee County.
Here are a few accomplishments Clean and Green has garnered since 2004:
• Over 9,000 area residents and volunteers are estimated to have participated in Clean and Green over the past 20 years. This number includes nearly 4,000 area youth, and almost half of those as employed youth.
• The Genesee County Land Bank has directly invested nearly $7 million into community-based organizations through Clean & Green.
• Clean and Green groups have completed over 330,000 vacant property mowing’s, valued at over $15.5 million.
• Clean and Green community groups have planted dozens of gardens over 20 years, decoratively boarded over 600 properties, and held countless cleanups.
For more information on Clean & Green, please email cleangreen@thelandbank.org or call 810-257-3088 ext. 524.
20 years of operations and millions of dollars of “investments” (involuntary seizure of taxpayer money) have yielded an environment much worse than when the clean and green land bank started.