2023 Neighborhood Project Grant Results

2023 Neighborhood Project Grant Results

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2023 was the ninth year of our Neighborhood Project Grants (NPGs). These grants now reimburse up to $3,000 for neighborhoods to complete projects that enhance a neighborhood’s livability and involvement, benefit the entire neighborhood, and promote a strong sense of community. 2020-2022 were quiet years for NPGs as neighbors dealt with the pandemic.

But in 2023, successful NPGs more than tripled from 2022! Once again, there were robust applications with some original ideas from neighborhoods on bringing neighbors together, including a festival, a walking program that visited multiple parks, and a Day of the Dead celebration. Projects also included an updated community garden, neighborhood-wide mailers to notify residents of events such as Night to Unite gatherings, and live music to entertain.

You can read a summary of the individual grants below. Each application had to ensure that the neighbors would put in the volunteer effort to complete the project by December 2023.

Impact of 2023 Project Grants

  • Projects Awarded: 13
  • Neighborhood Groups Receiving Grants: 10
  • Total Grant Funds: $15,195.87

2024 Project Grants
Have an idea that needs funding for 2024? Find all the information you’ll need here.

Individual Project Summaries

Cimarron 

  • Kings Run Park Garden: Structural repairs to posts and gates, as well as deer/rabbit enclosure fencing for community garden.

Somali Community – Partnership with UofM Extension Services

  • “Fishes ‘n’ Apples” Program: Swimming lessons and nutrition education for youth ages 8-12, eight sessions. Goggles, swim instructor, final awards, and picnic.

Parkside/Oakside Terrace – Partnership with UofM Extension 

  • “Fishes ‘n’ Apples” Program: Swimming lessons and nutrition education for youth ages 8-12, eight sessions. Goggles, swim instructor, final awards, and picnic.
  • Day of the Dead celebration – churros and books

Lowertown

  • The first ever Lowertown Festival occurred on August 20, 2023, at Goose Egg Park. An estimated 200-300 people came out for neighborhood fun. Neighbors laughed, painted, drummed, biked, dunked, and ate wonderful food together.

Historic SW 

  • The HSW neighborhood organized a giant Night to Unite party with live music, games, food, and prizes.
  • Neighborhood-wide mailing promoting the newly reinvigorated neighborhood association.

Homestead Addition 

  • Night to Unite snacks. Photo above.

Washington 

  • Open House snacks and posters. This group wrote an NPG to fund their first neighborhood association gathering in many years. However, they asked, and their area businesses supported them with so many donations that they ended up not needing any funding.

Slatterly Park 

  • Bridge banners to replace ones created over ten years ago. Designed by a neighbor.
  • Popcorn and snacks for their annual Movie & Music event.

Eastside Neighborhood National Night Out

  • Door hangers were printed to promote their Night to Unite party. The neighbors spent time distributing the door hangers across their neighborhood.
  • Fuzzy’s Italian Ice Rental for the Night to Unite gathering. This small, local vendor was a big draw in 2023, with three different neighborhoods utilizing their delicious treats. 

Hispanic Community – Partnership with UofM Extension

  • Walking in Nature included a 3 times/week group walk at different Rochester parks and trails. T-shirts, photo printing, and celebratory picnic.

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