The AIA and Hanley Wood have made two grants to AIA components this year, as part of the annual Opportunity Fund to support AIA component initiatives. AIA Detroit is planning a series of events intended to promote best business practices among it membership. AIA Las Vegas is planning a mentorship program in conjunction with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students.

Eighteen components applied. “I was incredibly impressed by the quality of the submissions,” says Frank Anton, vice chairman of Hanley Wood, who selected the winners with ARCHITECT editor-in-chief Ned Cramer.

Funding for the Opportunity Fund grants is provided by Hanley Wood, publisher of ARCHITECT. Both winning components will receive $5,000. Half was presented on August 11, at the Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) meeting, and the remainder will be presented in 2017 at the completion of the projects.