Neighborhood Notes—Central Austin

A new grant program may soon help Austin neighborhoods fund their small projects.



Love Your Block, Austin! offers $500–$1,000 grants for neighborhoods interested in volunteering for and organizing a project that improves traditionally underserved areas of the city.



Nevana Pilipovic-Wengler, member of the AmeriCorps VISTA service program, is coordinating the project on behalf of Mayor Lee Leffingwell's office, with $10,000 in donations available from the nonprofit Cities of Service coalition, which is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in an effort to help cities emphasize volunteer efforts.



"This is a fantastic way to let residents determine what can be done in their area while working together," she said. "And none of this money is taxpayer money."



Examples of projects that may gain approval include tree plantings, trash cleanup or community garden improvements, Pilipovic-Wengler said.



The program may also help fund improvements to existing or ongoing neighborhood projects, she said, as long as neighborhoods can recruit up to 20 volunteers to assist. Applications that propose creative uses of the grant money will stick out in the selection process, Pilipovic-Wengler said.



"Not just creativity, but there are some real-life issues [neighborhoods] can address with these small amounts of money," she said. "I think it also supports future investment in your community as well. Residents working together can build a stronger community."



Neighborhoods have until June 1 to apply for project grant money, Pilipovic-Wengler said.



Love Your Block, Austin!



Mini-grant program



Source: City of Austin