Berston Field House hopes to catch $5M from taxpayers

A Flint lawmaker seeks $5 million in state funding for Berston Field House, a community center that has received millions in public funds in recent years.

State Rep. Cynthia Neeley, D-Flint, requested taxpayer funds from the 2026 state budget to the organization Friends of Berston Field House. The organization was formed after the city of Flint could no longer support the facility, according to its website’s frequently asked questions webpage.

The field house has received multiple rounds of taxpayer support since 2021, including $3 million in the 2025 state budget.

The proposed earmark would help expand and renovate the facility, tripling its current size. Renovations are nearly complete, the organization says, at a cost of $42 million.

Upgrades include an NBA-regulation basketball court, elevated track, fitness center and boxing center. Other amenities include arts and music rooms, dance studios, a bike room, and workspaces for STEM activities and the trades. Outdoor upgrades include sports fields, an amphitheater and playgrounds.

Neeley’s request states that the allocation would support economic development by creating new jobs, training opportunities, and an event space. “The completion of the project will support economic recovery and development by creating additional spaces for local entrepreneurs,” the request states.

Almost all funding for the center comes from taxpayers, not from income the facility generates on its own.

The Friends of Berston Field House reported $12.2 million in revenue in 2022, with approximately $11.5 million coming from government grants, according to tax filings with the Internal Revenue Service. In 2023, it reported $1.8 million in revenue.

Michigan Capitol Confidential reported that the field house received $500,000 in 2022 from the state budget. It received $972,121 from grants, contributions, and member fees in 2021, according to its IRS filing. The organization received $512,348 from government sources that year.

MLive reported in February 2024 that Genesee County allocated $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the facility. The same article noted that the Flint-based Mott Foundation would match contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to $5 million.

Officials with the Berston Field House did not respond to an email seeking comment. State officials who were approached via email for comment did not respond. They include Neely; Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, who leads the House Appropriations Committee; and Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, vice chair of the committee.