Milan City Council member Michael Armitage has taken a year of his City Council salary and established the Armitage/Brainard Milan Beautification Fund.

According to a press release, he and his wife, Colleen, wanted to memorialize the Armitage family, which has been a part of the Milan community for generations.

The fund will issue grants annually for projects that beautify public space within the city limits.

“This fund can be used for landscaping, streetscape projects, holiday decorations, or any other project that the committee believes will improve the appearance of public space within the city," Armitage said in the press release.

A three-person grant committee will be formed including one member from the Armitage family.

“We are asking the community to support this endowment so that it can grow. The larger it is, the more it can give,” he said.

The principal of the fund will be invested and the interest will be used for grants.

The fund agreement was approved by the Community Foundation of Monroe County and the Greater Milan Area Community earlier this month.

Donations can be made sent to: Greater Milan Area Community Foundation, ATTN: Milan Beautification Fund, P.O. Box 204, Milan, Mich. 48160. All donations are tax deductible. Michigan residents will get an additional deduction on their state taxes for donating to a community foundation.