2024 Love Your Block Application

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The City of Newark proudly presents the Love Your Block Mini-Grants Program, an initiative designed to connect residents with city departments and community organizations to implement neighborhood beautification and community-building projects.

The purpose of the Love Your Block (LYB) Mini-Grants Program is to empower residents to carry out their own vision for a cleaner, greener, and healthier neighborhood with a reimbursement-based project funding of up to $5,000 and targeted technical assistance and capacity-building support from city agencies and partner organizations.

The City of Newark encourages resident leaders to show their neighborhood pride by proposing projects and initiatives that will enhance, beautify and revitalize their communities. Eligible individuals, resident groups and/or community organizations are hereby invited to prepare and submit the proposal packet and forms
today!

Program Goals & Grant Categories:

Community clean-ups: Reduce litter, improve recycling, and/or waste management throughout the City of Newark.
Minor exterior home repairs & curb appeal: Repurpose underutilized properties and parcels to create a sense of pride of ownership in residential areas.
Enhancing Green Spaces and Activating Vacant Lots: Enhance community advantages around dormant or underutilized structures, publicly-owned parks, open areas, and other locations of communal importance.

Deadlines & Dates to Remember:

Application Portal Open for Submissions: Monday, July 1, 2024 through Thursday, August 15, 2024 11:59 P.M.
Selection Committee Review Period: July-August 2024
Grantee Announcement: September 2024
Project Implementation Period: September-November
Reimbursement Invoices & Final Report Due: November 30, 2024

Project teams are expected to complete their projects within 3 months of grant distribution. Projects begin in September 2024 and must be completed by
November 15, 2024.

How To Apply:
To be considered, your project must meet all eligibility criteria, and the project proposal forms must be completed and submitted either electronically or in-person by
Thursday, August 15, 11:59 P.M.

For more information, contact:

Claudia Rungo

Community Engagement Coordinator and Love Your Block Program Manager
rungoc@ci.newark.nj.us
(973) 877-9587
Office of Sustainability, City of Newark
Attn: Love Your Block Mini-Grant Program
920 Broad Street, Rm. B-12
Newark, NJ 07102

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Lead Applicant Contact Information

Phone Number

Group/Team Name

PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Name

Project Summary (50-60 words)

Which of the Love Your Block program goals does your project address? (select all that apply)

Community cleanups

Minor home repairs and curb appeal

Green space & vacant lot activation

Other

PROJECT LOCATION

Site Location Address

In what ward is the project located?

North

South

East

West

Central

Site Access: do you have permission from the site owner(s) to use the site?

Yes

Not yet, in progress

Upload before images: 3-5 Before Photos

Click Here to Upload

PROJECT DETAILS

Who are you? Please describe your project team (including any partners) and your connection to the project site and neighborhood. Please also discuss any experience you have that is relevant to your project, and any similar projects you have successfully completed in the past.

What will you be doing? Please provide the following details about your proposed activities: What are the current blight conditions in your project area? What activities will you carry out to prevent or reduce these blight conditions? Please be clear on who will be responsible for each portion of the work (project team, partner orgs, etc.). Please provide a concise timeline that lists the project start date, project end date, and timing of any key activities. Describe your budget, please provide what will be the largest expenses of the project. Do you anticipate any challenges or unmet needs that could prevent you from successfully completing the project? If so, what are they, and what is your plan to overcome them? [Blight: deteriorating and abandoned homes and buildings, as well as vacant lots with trash, high weeds and grass and/or abandoned and vandalized cars. ]

Community engagement: Please discuss how you are engaging with neighbors and residents around your project site. How were neighbors involved in designing the project? How will you ensure that they are active, engaged agents of change throughout the project?

Results and impact: Please discuss (a) the visible change your project will create (b) what additional community benefits you anticipate as a result for the neighborhood or community.

Project Sustainability: Love Your Block is intended to foster lasting change. How will you ensure that the project results are sustainable after the project period? Who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the project/project site?

Love Your Block Grant funds Requesting: (Max $5,000, numbers only)

Please describe the anticipated expenses for your project including the purpose, items, quantity, costs, and vendors.

Love Your Block Leadership Team (6 Newark Residents)

I am confirming that the 6 listed individuals below are Newark residents. Applicants under the age of 18 require guardian approval if project is accepted.

Yes

Fiscal Sponsorship

This portion of the application pertains to who will file for the reimbursements. If your organization is seeking a fiscal sponsor, please identify them below. If you have yet to determine one by the time of the application, please write TBD (to be determined). The fiscal sponsor must have an NJ Business Registration Certificate and W-9.

Sponsor Contact Email

Upload Business Registration Certificate (BRC)

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Upload W-9

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Agreement

Do you, (Applicant’s First & Last Name), agree to the following terms and conditions:

I understand that this grant program is reimbursement based and if selected, I will be required to submit documentation as detailed by the City of Newark. This may include receipts, invoices, and funding reports, etc.
I understand that I should plan for my project to begin in September 2024 and be completed by November 15, 2024.
I understand that I will be required to submit periodic progress reports, including photos of the project site, written summaries of site improvements and community engagement efforts while the project is underway.
I understand that sections of the final report narrative, images and project metrics will be used in annual reporting for the program.
I understand that if my project is selected for a mini-grant award, my co-lead and I will both be required to attend a mandatory Love Your Block grantee orientation.
I understand that someone from the City of Newark's Office of Sustainability may conduct a site visit to my project during implementation and completion.

If you answered “yes” to all of the questions listed above, you may date and sign below to confirm your submission.

Lead Applicant Sign Here

First Name

Last Name

Choose how to sign

Draw Type

I agree to electronically sign and to create a legally binding contract between the other party and myself, or the entity I am authorized to represent.