Leadership Oakland reports surge in Acorn to Oak youth grant applications after media coverage; contract renewed for three years

Susan Holiday, executive director of Leadership Oakland, told the Oakland County commissioners that the Acorn to Oak youth grant program has been renewed under a new county contract and that applications surged after local media coverage. Holiday said the county renewed the contract in October 2024 for three years at $100,000 per year, and Leadership Oakland will continue to administer the program.

Holiday reviewed the program’s history and results. She said County Executive Dave Coulter announced Acorn to Oak at his 2023 State of the County address; the board approved an initial allocation of $250,000 in May 2023, and a contract between Leadership Oakland and Oakland County was signed that October. Holiday said the program’s first grant deadline was March 15, 2024, and the contract was renewed in October 2024 for…