Bloomington, Indiana – The Housing and Community Growth (HAND) Department of the City of Bloomington encourages residents to apply for city funds to better their communities.
For the 2021 application cycle, applications are currently being accepted for funding through four community grant programs.
The funds offer community-wide incentives for non-traditional capital projects that have been shown to have strong neighborhood support. Projects like physical upgrades and public art, and some other not covered by traditional City programs, are included in this program.
Funds can also be used for the production of designs for the proposed project. Neighborhood entrance signs and street sign toppers, playground equipment, historic sidewalk renovation, public art installations and landscaping type of projects have been funded by these grants in the past.
In order to apply for a Neighborhood Improvement Grant, a representative from each neighborhood considering submitting an application must attend a virtual information meeting on Tuesday, 26 January at 6 p.m. or on Monday, February 1 at 7 p.m. (The meeting of the applicants for additional neighborhood grants listed below is not required.)
Letters of Intent are due on Monday, February 15. Applications are due on Monday, March 22. Please visit the Neighborhood Improvement Grant website for guidelines and application.
The Small & Simple Grant program offers funding up to $500/year from January 4 through September 1 through two programs:
The traditional Small & Simple Grant funds community-building opportunities that might not otherwise be available, from training sessions to neighborhood newsletters to celebrations.
The Small & Simple Grant to Control Invasive Plant Species is a pilot program that will allow for HAND grant monies to be used to fund improvements on private property with the explicit purpose of supporting neighborhood-wide initiatives to remove invasive species and replace them with native plants. The grant program is available through a partnership between HAND and Monroe County Identify and Remove Invasive Species (MC-IRIS)
The Neighborhood Cleanup Grant offers an incentive for residents to work together to create a community and to promote pride in their neighborhood. Cleanup is a one-day project during which local volunteers obtain assistance from City employees and equipment to dispose of garbage, tires, scrap metal, hazardous materials and brushes.
For more information please contact Neighborhood Services Program Manager Angela Van Rooy at angela.vanrooy@bloomington.in.gov or 812-349-3505.
