Chop - Mel Trotter Ministries (MTM) will use $800,000 in CED funds to expand Chop Tree Service, LLC (Chop), in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chop is a vegetation management company specializing in utility line clearing, tree trimming, tree removal, and tree health. Specifically, CED funds will be used to purchase key equipment, including a fleet of 4 aerial basket trucks to maintain vegetation on low and high voltage power lines. The expansion of Chop’s operational capacity will create high-quality jobs that provide the hired employees with hands-on experience in utility line clearance, rapid response and emergency preparedness, and safety. These newly created positions will provide opportunities for career advancement through training and education funded by Chop, including arborist training, pesticide licensing, commercial driver’s license attainment, and safety training. In addition to advancement opportunities, Chop also provides an extensive suite of benefits including paid time off, predictable scheduling, healthcare insurance, and retirement benefits. In addition to the benefits offered by Chop directly, MTM will also offer employees hired through this project a comprehensive set of wraparound supportive services including career counseling, financial literacy training, transportation services, access to health care resources, housing services, and nutritional support. MTM will partner with Next Step of West Michigan to recruit individuals with low incomes for the newly created positions. The project will leverage an additional $5,000 in applicant-supplied funds. This project will create 30 new jobs, 23 of which will be filled by individuals with low income.
