Neighbors, it's time to write and submit proposals for the Neighborhood Small Grants Program. These grants fund community building projects in neighborhoods all over Portland. Dream big!
Here's more from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement:
The City of Portland, Office of Neighborhood Involvement and seven neighborhood District Coalitions announce the 4th year of the Neighborhood Small Grants Program with $178,830 available to neighborhood and community-based organizations. The grants program's goal is to provide neighborhood and community-based organizations an opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse membership, and sustain those already involved. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Proposals are due no later than 2:00 PM, Monday, November 2, 2009. More information can be found at www.portlandonline.com/oni.
First three years of grant program funds 271 projects In the first three years of the grant program $553,847 was awarded to 271 neighborhood and community organization projects. The average grant award was $1.972; 127 neighborhood projects were funded along with 102 projects (38%) initiated by underrepresented organizations working with people of color, immigrants and refugees, low-income families, youth and people with disabilities. The remaining organizations represented environmental, crime prevention, business, arts and culture organizations and associations.
Grants Administered by Seven District Coalitions
The grants program is being administered through the seven neighborhood District Coalitions funded by the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. Applicants will need to choose a neighborhood district coalition to submit proposals to depending on whether the project benefits the residents residing within that coalition's geographical area. Each Coalition has been allocated a percentage of total funds based upon a formula that considers the number of neighborhood associations and relative income levels. Each District Coalition has the following total grant funds available:
Central Northeast Neighbors $16,836
East Portland Neighborhood Office $38,500
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods $20,913
North Portland Neighborhood Services $20,000
Neighbors West Northwest $21,345
Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition $40,513
Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. $20,723
Each Coalition will have a grant-making committee made up of District Coalition and/or Neighborhood Association, business community and under-represented community non-profit leaders. Administration costs of the coalitions has been held to $28,123 (%14) of the total $199,106 provided by the City for this grant program.
The grants program responds to years of input from neighborhood and community leaders for increased direct resources to neighborhood associations and other community-based groups working on local neighborhood projects. City Council first approved funding the grant program as part of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's fiscal year 2006-08 budget.
Informational Sessions Offered
Organizations interested in submitting proposals are strongly encouraged to attend one of seven info sessions to answer questions about the grant process, the application, what funds can be used for and unique priorities of each coalition area. The workshops will be held:
Wed., Sept. 23 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Central Northeast Neighbors
4415 NE 87th, behind Fire Station on Sandy Bl.
Thurs. Sept. 24 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
4815 NE 7th Ave., use 7th Ave. entrance
Thurs. Sept. 24 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
First United Methodist Church
1838 SW Jefferson, Rm. 134.
For Neighbors West-Northwest
Tues. Sept. 29 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
East Portland Neighborhood Office
1017 NE 117th Ave., between Halsey & Glisan
Wed. Sept. 30 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
North Portland Neighborhood Services
Historic Kenton Firehouse
8105 N. Brandon
Wed. Sept. 30 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition
3534 SE Main, two blocks south of Hawthorne
Wed. Oct. 7 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.
Multnomah Center
5688 SW Capitol Hwy.
Pre-registration is not required. Please call the appropriate District Coalition grant manager for more information. Please call seven days in advance for special needs accommodations for people with disabilities at 503-823-4519, or TTY 503-823-6868. All sites are wheelchair accessible.
