The training and technical assistance offered by the Strengthening Muskegon County Project is designed to overcome barriers that limit an organization's effectiveness.

Any faith-based and/or nonprofit organization with less than $500,000 in revenues and any township in Muskegon County is eligible for technical assistance and training at no cost by submitting a request to the Program Manager. A request may be made by calling Lynda Balkema, Muskegon Community Health Project, at 231.672.3215 or via email to balkemal@mchp.org. Once a request is made, a survey is completed and submitted to the Advisory Committee; the committee will select organizations/townships for individual technical assistance.

The five target areas of training/technical assistance are:

1. Leadership Development
2. Organizational Development
3. Program Development
4. Fund Development
5. Community Engagement

Criteria for nonprofit organizations applying for training:

1. Nonprofit organizations interested in receiving technical assistance must have at least one substantial secular social services program that is intended to benefit from the services.
2. The application screening team will ensure that the programs whose capacity is being built by the training does not include religious activities.
3. Technical assistance recipients must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the programs or services whose capacity is being built.
4. Participation in such activity by individuals receiving services will be voluntary.