Saginaw, MI Saginaw Promise Update

This City of Saginaw, Michigan meeting on March 24, 2026, provided an update on the Saginaw Promise program, a scholarship initiative modeled after the Kalamazoo Promise aimed at boosting educational attainment and economic growth in the community. The presenters highlighted the program's success in awarding over $1.5 million in scholarships to more than 800 scholars since 2012, contributing to increased high school graduation rates and post-secondary degree attainment. A recent legislative amendment to the Promise Zone Act now allows the Saginaw Promise to broaden its funding scope beyond tuition and mandatory fees to include additional costs such as housing, books, supplies, food, and transportation, with scholarships currently valued at $4,000 per academic year. The program continues to raise funds annually and encourages eligible students to apply through the Saginaw Community Foundation scholarship application and FAFSA to maximize funding opportunities.