🏫 WMU Awarded $13.3 Million GEAR UP Grant to Support Local Students and Strengthen Kalamazoo’s Future

Big news for Kalamazoo: Western Michigan University has received a $13.3 million GEAR UP partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Education — one of the largest education-focused awards in our region in recent years.

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant will deliver roughly $1.9 million per year for the next seven years, helping 2,590 sixth- and seventh-grade students from Comstock, Kalamazoo, Parchment, Bloomingdale, and Bangor school districts gain the skills, confidence, and support they need to pursue higher education.

Through WMU’s Office of Precollege Programming, students will benefit from tutoring, mentoring, summer camps, college visits, and financial literacy programs — all designed to walk with them from middle school through their first year of college.

The initiative is led by Dr. Erika Carr, Director of Precollege Programming, along with professors Joseph Kretovics and Brooks Applegate from WMU’s Department of Educational Leadership, Research & Technology.

🌟 Building Brighter Futures — and a Stronger Community

This isn’t just a win for the students. It’s a win for the entire Kalamazoo region.

Education has always been one of Kalamazoo’s greatest strengths. From The Kalamazoo Promise, which guarantees free college tuition to local graduates, to WMU’s ongoing commitment to college readiness, our community has made it clear: we invest in our kids, and we invest in our future.

Programs like GEAR UP have a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the classroom:

• Stronger schools attract stronger communities. When families see real educational opportunities for their children, they’re more likely to put down roots and invest long-term in their homes and neighborhoods.

• Education drives real estate value. District performance is one of the top factors families consider when choosing where to live. Consistent, long-term educational investment translates directly into higher demand and healthier housing markets.

• A skilled workforce strengthens the local economy. As more students graduate college-ready, local businesses benefit from a deeper talent pool — making Kalamazoo an even more appealing place to live and work.

• Hope builds stability. For many families, this program represents not just opportunity, but the confidence that their children’s futures can be brighter right here at home.

When our community prioritizes education, everyone wins — students, families, employers, and homeowners alike.

🏡 Why It Matters for Kalamazoo’s Real Estate Market

At the Veenstra Team, we see the connection between education and housing health every day. Homebuyers consistently ask about school districts, graduation rates, and local programs that set students up for success. When local schools thrive, home values tend to follow.

This $13.3 million GEAR UP grant is another example of how Kalamazoo continues to invest in long-term community growth — creating not just great schools, but great places to live.

It reinforces what makes this area so special: strong schools, close-knit neighborhoods, vibrant local universities, and a shared belief that opportunity should be within reach for every child.

👉 Learn more about WMU’s GEAR UP program: wmich.edu/precollege/gearup