The Eaton Rapids Community Alliance (ERCA) is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that initiates and supports projects that promote community connection, health and wellbeing, and the Eaton Rapids legacy. ERCA is the umbrella organization over Eaton Rapids Teen Space, a community-based teen center founded in 2018 that offers after school programming and activities Monday through Friday for Eaton Rapids area youth in grades 6-12.

We are…

• Parents/grandparents of teens, and other interested residents with varied backgrounds in business, public service, health care, teaching, law enforcement, government, and finance.
• Representatives from our local governments: the City of Eaton Rapids, Hamlin Township, and Eaton Rapids Township.
• Leaders, organizers, and workers from organizations such as the Eaton Rapids Public Schools, Eaton Rapids Medical Center, Eaton Rapids Health Alliance, Eaton RESA, Barry Eaton District Health Department, and the Eaton County Juvenile Court System.

ERCA began as the Eaton Rapids Area Teen Initiative (ERATI) in 2016 to research the possibility of starting a teen center in the Eaton Rapids area. In February of 2017, ERATI formed ERCA to handle the legal and financial aspects of starting the teen center.

Through hard work and generous donations from citizens and businesses in the area, we have seen our dream come to fruition with the opening of Eaton Rapids Teen Space March 2018.

Since then, our primary community project has grown and flourished in attendance and the scope of its programming. We see dozens of local youth every day of the week coming to socialize, do homework, practice instruments, receive free instrument lessons, play games, learn new skills, and more. ERCA is proud of the success of Eaton Rapids Teen Space and hopes it will be an asset for generations to come.

Meet the ERCA Board of Directors!