North Central Michigan College is among eight colleges and universities selected to receive funding from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) through its Hunger-Free Campus Activities Grants program.
MiLEAP awarded $495,182.66 statewide to strengthen campus-based food access initiatives. North Central received $45,050 to enhance support for students experiencing food insecurity.
Since opening in 2019, the Campus Cupboard has provided a year-round, stigma-free resource offering nutritious food and essential personal items. As demand has grown, the program has become an increasingly important part of supporting student well-being, stability, and academic success.
The grant will fund the relocation and expansion of the Campus Cupboard into a larger, more accessible space within the Borra Learning Center. The new location will more than double current capacity and place the resource in one of the most highly trafficked areas on campus.
Funding will support additional refrigeration and freezer capacity to expand fresh and perishable food offerings, along with upgraded inventory and reporting systems to better track usage and connect services to student outcomes. The redesigned space will feature a more welcoming, grocery-style layout.
Renovations are expected to take place over the summer, with the expanded Campus Cupboard anticipated to open at the start of the Fall 2026 semester.
In response to student feedback, NCMC will also introduce new service models, including grab-and-go weekend food bags, customized online ordering, expanded evening and weekend access, and emergency meal vouchers for students facing immediate need.
“What began as a small effort to address food insecurity has grown into a vital support system for our students, reflecting both the level of need in our community and our commitment to removing barriers to success,” said Corey Lansing, dean of Student Success. “This investment ensures we can continue to care for the whole student.”
Other institutions receiving grants include Alma College, Alpena Community College, Central Michigan University, Davenport University, Kalamazoo College, Lake Michigan College, and Muskegon Community College.
“Food insecurity remains a real challenge for many college students, and this grant helps us respond in a tangible, student-centered way. We are grateful for MiLEAP’s support as we continue building a campus community where every student has the resources they need to thrive,” said Chelsea Platte, vice president of advancement and executive director of the NCMC Foundation.
The investment aligns with MiLEAP’s College Student Basic Needs Task Force report, Barriers to Bridges: Strengthening Michigan Communities by Addressing College Student Basic Needs, which identified food and housing insecurity as key barriers to college completion and informed strategies to improve student outcomes.