Melissa Milton-Pung is a Policy Research Labs program manager at the Michigan Municipal League and current president of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network. As a Federally-qualified architectural historian, her expertise is in place-based economic development initiatives, historic rehabilitation, and heritage tourism. She is an experienced grant writer and administrator, with a focus on municipal and non-profit partnerships. Her career grant pool is roughly $20 million.
Prior to joining the League in 2017, Melissa spent more than a decade as economic development & historic preservation project manager for Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor) and worked in cultural resource consulting. She is also certified as an economic development finance professional (EDFP) with Grow America, formerly the National Development Council, and has taught as an adjunct faculty in Historic Preservation at Eastern Michigan University. She holds a BA in Public History from Western Michigan University and a Master of Historic Preservation from the University of Kentucky College of Architecture, where her research contributed to the creation of the Commonwealth’s first historic property tax credit.
Q: Why do you work in community advancement?
I believe strongly that every resident has the right to a great place to live in Michigan. Our role in public service is to increase the quality of life for Michigan residents, and connecting municipalities with funding sources helps them offer programs and services that achieve that end. I want my work to help people feel like they belong no matter where they are from or who they are.
Q: What is one thing you wish communities seeking funding knew?
I wish that communities knew they probably already have the components of a good grant application hidden within their files. A compelling narrative can come together quickly from many of the plans and programs you already have. Getting that grant out there helps you increase your confidence in seeking funding – and in thinking strategically about layering different funding sources.
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