2019 RNeighbors Neighborhood Project Grants

RNeighbors Neighborhood Project Grants reimburse up to $1,000 in costs for neighborhoods to complete projects that:

• Enhance a neighborhood’s livability and involvement
• Benefit the entire neighborhood
• Promote a strong sense of community.

Be creative. These non-revenue producing projects can include, but are not limited to, identification signage, bike racks, mini libraries
or food pantries, pocket park improvements, physical activity opportunities, butterfly & rain gardens, native plantscaping and public art projects.

Total Neighborhood Project Grant Funding

• $8,000 for general neighborhood grants
• $2,000 for active living initiatives (Creative Crosswalks and community food gardens)

You can check out results from the 2018 grants here and a short video that includes some of the 2018 grants here.

Eligible Applicants

• Only one grant application per neighborhood. Multiple projects may be bundled into one grant application.
• Eligible applicants include neighborhood associations. An unregistered group can submit a “letter of commitment” to form a neighborhood association by the end of the grant period in October.
  • A complete list of registered neighborhood associations is online.
  • Creating a Neighborhood Association in Rochester is FREE. For neighborhood registration, or grant application questions, email René Halasy, RNeighbors’ Executive Director.

Active Living Initiative Grant
If awarded an active living initiative grant, neighborhood associations are expected to continue to maintain the community garden or creative crosswalk beyond the initial grant year. For this reason, please include additional supplies for continued maintenance beyond year one in your grant application.

• Creative Crosswalks
  Creative Crosswalks enables neighborhoods to creatively paint a crosswalk, bringing art to a barren space while emphasizing a safe crosswalk. Appropriate locations include where crosswalks need to be improved or highlighted and must align with the City of Rochester’s Revocable Permit for the program. For example the intended street must carry less than 2,000 vehicles on an average day. Crosswalks that link sidewalks or trails are preferable. Connect with René at RNeighbors who can work with Public Works to help determine an ideal location and provide a step-by-step guide for the project.
• Community Food Garden
  Allowable expenses include start-up gardening supplies (such as shovels, rakes, hoses, seeds, starter plants, and dirt), materials to construct raised bed gardens, signage, fencing, and garden watering equipment. Unallowable expenses include large sheds, underground irrigation systems, land rentals for gardens, liability insurance, labor to install garden, goods or services for personal use, or other costs incurred prior to grant award.

Neighborhood Project Grants Timeline
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 14, 2019, at 5 pm

• All applications must be submitted to RNeighbors via email.
• Applicants must complete an application and attach necessary supporting documentation. Please read all of the instructions carefully before filling out the application. It is extremely important to fill out the application form properly. If in doubt, ask questions.
• If your request is approved, you must adhere to your application throughout the grant’s duration. This includes the project scope, budget worksheet and submitting a final report by the deadline. We realize that project circumstances change and we want you to succeed. Ask questions. RNeighbors can help you navigate necessary changes.
• We’ll be highlighting some grants in a video presentation. Scheduling a time to work with RNeighbors and the videographer may be necessary so we can tell your project’s success story.

Notification of Awards: Friday, April 6, 2019

The 2019 grant winners will be posted publicly at RNeighbors.org. All applicants will be notified via email communicating their grant status.

Project Completion Deadline: Tuesday, October 30, 2019

Additional information on the Neighborhood Project Grant can be found in the Grant Overview, included below along with the Grant Application.

• Project Grant Overview (PDF)

• Project Grant Application Form (MS Word Doc)

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