Our History
In 2008, a group of dedicated Benzie County residents came together with a shared vision: to create a welcoming community greenspace that could foster local connection, access to healthy food, and hands-on learning.
They purchased the abandoned Chippewa Farms nursery in Benzonia, and through the elbow grease of volunteers and the commitment of part-time contractors, began the hard work of revitalizing the property into what would become Grow Benzie.
Originally focused on gardens, food access, and community programming, Grow Benzie quickly realized that many small nonprofits and grassroots initiatives lacked the capacity to manage the “back-end” of their missions. In response, Grow Benzie evolved into a rural prosperity incubator—offering fiscal sponsorship, grant support, volunteer coordination, and shared space to help local changemakers prosper together.
Support Grow Benzie today.
By donating to Grow Benzie, you are supporting a growing network of change-makers. You are fueling community development across the region, and lifting up the grassroots efforts and entrepreneurs in our beautiful county.
Most importantly, you are shaping Benzie County’s future — building a place that is connected and empowered, in which everyone has opportunities to learn, create, grow, and prosper.