April 2017 | Business View Magazine

26 27 and training. Such diverse subjects as nutritional literacy, agriculture, botany, food prep, and computer programming will be covered, as well as skill sets training for neighborhood residents. Gersh says, “The opportunity here – the scope –has grown so much.We started in 2011 as a working urban farm and now the site is becoming a model for how things can be. Changes to the grid; hous- ing and commercial development; building rehabilitation.When complete, our Community Resource Center will be one of the most sus- tainable, energy-efficient build- ings in Detroit, using the latest innovations in building materi- als and systems.” An abandoned greenhouse adjacent to the Community Center is also slated for rehab– as a healthy food cafe and food incubator, featuring fresh, farm- to-table food with ingredients from MUFI’s urban farm. Organizations and individuals from around the globe volunteer at the MUFI site. Even in the winter. Student groups, companies, individ- uals –what started as farm work now involves EXECUTIVE VIEW FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.miufi.org or contact Tyson Gersh at 734.330.5691 or tysongersh@miufi.org neighborhood stabilization. One week in March saw volunteers from West Africa and Oklahoma gutting the interior of a blighted home, shovelling snow for seniors. The next week, Iowa University and Wayne State University volunteers were clear- ing trash and fallen branches after a windstorm; painting houses for individual residents. Of course, spring, summer and fall are all about the actual business of growing food. Corporations for community A viable, new sustainability project like the MUFI agrihood draws corporate attention. Green Stan- The next phase in this ambitious agri- hood project is transforming a long-va- cant three-story former apartment building into a 3,200-square-foot Com- munity Resource Center, with gathering space for educational programs and training. Such diverse subjects as nutri- tional literacy, agriculture, botany, food prep, and computer programming will be covered, as well as skill sets training for neighborhood residents.