What could possibly be better than a Business After Hours event? With food, drinks, networking and making valuable connections, prizes and free admission, they’re pretty awesome. The only thing that could make them better is giving local nonprofits the opportunity to raise money and a chance to win a $3,000 grant!

The Greater Ishpeming Area Community Fund and Negaunee Community Fund will be giving one $3,000 grant to an eligible nonprofit organization in November. Visit www.cfofmc.org or call 906-226-7666 to download or request an application. Submit your application by Sept. 30 to be considered.

The fund committee will choose the five proposals that it feels are the worthiest of the grant funds. Those five nonprofits will present their proposals at a GINCC Business After Hours event, which will be held on Nov. 7 at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum!

Those attending the event will vote with their dollars for the nonprofit proposal they feel is deserving of the $3,000 grant. Each nonprofit will walk away with the dollars they receive for votes, but the proposal with the most votes/dollars will receive the $3,000 grant!

If you know of a nonprofit organization who you think deserves to receive $3,000, let them know about this opportunity. If they are one of the five organizations chosen to give proposals, you can then attend the Business After Hours on Wednesday, Nov. 7 with some cash to give them your vote!

If you don’t happen to know of a nonprofit organization, come on out to the Business After Hours event anyway and give some local nonprofits your vote! Even if the organization(s) you vote for don’t win, you’ll still be donating to a great cause, and having fun while you’re at it.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Gabi Kautz is the communications & marketing assistant for GINCC. She currently resides in Ishpeming with her parents, Cathy and Claude Kautz. She enjoys traveling, yoga and photography.