Crim Headquarters Moving To Saginaw Street in Downtown Flint

Published Thursday, August 10, 2006

FLINT, Michigan – The Crim Fitness Foundation (CFF) is moving its headquarters to the Land Bank Center in downtown Flint. The health and fitness organization, with help from a one-year, $285,000 grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, will purchase and renovate nearly 4,000 square feet of interior space on two floors of the building at 452 South Saginaw Street. The public announcement was made at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the new site. The project, expected to be completed in early 2007, will accommodate expanded program activities and enhance the organization’s visible presence downtown. The space will also provide additional office areas for CFF staff and volunteers, as well as retail space for the sale of fitness-related products, and a Crim Hall of Fame and museum.”

This move represents a significant stage of growth for the Crim Fitness Foundation,” said Gerry Myers, Crim CEO. “Thanks to the support of both the C.S. Mott Foundation and the Genesee County Land Bank, we will now have adequate space to accommodate growth in our Festival of Races, as well as our CrimKids and CrimFit programs. This type of public- and private-sector support exemplifies this city’s commitment to the Crim and to our pursuit of achieving fitness as a community and family value.” CFF’s 10-Mile Crim Road Race, part of the organization’s annual Festival of Races, will celebrate its 30 th anniversary on Saturday, August 26. The event is expected to attract more than 15,000 local, regional and international runners and other athletes.

The organization also conducts various health and fitness activities, including school-based programs, throughout the year.

The 25,000 square foot Land Bank Center was acquired by the Genesee County Land Bank (GCLB) in 2003. The building, which had been unoccupied for nearly 23 years, recently underwent a $3.8-million renovation. It reopened in 2005 and is currently home to GCLB offices, several commercial businesses, and residential-style loft apartments.

The facility’s renovation reflects an ongoing transformation of a variety of buildings in the central city.

“The partnership between the Crim and the Land Bank will strengthen both organizations, as well as contribute to the redevelopment of downtown Flint,” said William S. White, Mott Foundation president and CEO. “We believe this project will capitalize on that partnership by leveraging long-term benefits for these organizations and the community at large.”

"The Land Bank is thrilled to welcome the Crim to the building as our neighbor” Commented Dan Kildee, county treasurer and president of the Land Bank. “The relationship between the Land Bank and Crim is a natural fit as we both share a mission to improve the lives of our citizens as well as improve the perception of our wonderful community."

A formal ribbon cutting ceremony for the new CFF headquarters is planned for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 23, at the Land Bank Center. Artist renderings of the planned space will be on display.

The Ruth Mott Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint have also provided support for various CFF events and activities, including past races and educational programs.

The Crim Fitness Foundation administers year-round health and fitness programs for both adults and children, including the world class Crim Festival of Races, held the fourth weekend each August. The Crim Adult Training Program has grown to become one of the largest training programs for any single athletic event in the country. Currently, more than 10,000 youngsters take part in a CrimKids Youth Program in area schools and neighborhoods.

GCLB works in collaboration with the Genesee County Treasurer’s Office to prevent tax foreclosure on area homes and bring tax reverted properties back into productive use. The organization, via partnerships with public, private and nonprofit stakeholders, is encouraging reinvestment in more than 4,000 residential, commercial and industrial properties it has acquired through tax foreclosures since 2002.

The C.S. Mott Foundation, established in 1926 in Flint by an automotive pioneer, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the U.S. and, on a limited geographic basis, internationally. Besides Flint, offices are located in Detroit, Johannesburg (South Africa) and London with additional staff in Cork, Ireland. Grantmaking is focused in four programs: Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area and Pathways Out of Poverty. The Foundation, with year-end total assets of approximately $2.46 billion, made 549 grants totaling approximately $123 million in 2005. For more information, visit Mott.org.

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