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Fall 2019 Love Your Block Mini-Grant Applications Now Open

August 13, 2019 | Department of Neighborhood Engagement
By: Amber Strazzo

Beginning August 13, the Fall 2019 round of Love Your Block mini-grant applications is now available to residents, neighborhood groups and organizations. Earlier this year, eight neighborhood groups on Howard Ave. and in the ChurchTowne neighborhood completed Love Your Block projects through the first round of Love Your Block funding. This round of grants has been expanded to include other neighborhoods in south-east and south-central Lancaster City, as well as a second grant opportunity for neighborhood parks and community spaces.

“We are continuing to expand Mayor Sorace’s efforts of supporting resident leaders and bringing their neighborhoods together to create change. Love Your Block brings community members, organizations, and city resources together to build community and realize the changes that residents want to see in their own neighborhoods,” said Milzy Carrasco, Director of Neighborhood Engagement.

The Love Your Block Mini-Grant is offered specifically for projects that focus on reducing litter and addressing simple exterior home façade repairs in the focus neighborhoods. Interested residents, neighborhood groups and community organizations are invited to submit project proposals for a mini-grant ranging between $500 and $2,000.

The new Neighborhood Park Grant is available for groups of neighbors that have a vision to adopt an existing park or green space in their neighborhood, proposing ideas that focus on improving the space by engaging their community and the City together to sustain change. Grants will be awarded up to $2,500.

Applications are open through September 30. More information and both grant applications can be found at www.cityoflancasterpa.com/neighborhoods under the Funding Opportunities header.

Projects will be approved in early October. Grantees will then schedule meetings with the Department of Neighborhood Engagement to plan project days and ensure sustainability.

The Love Your Block program is funded by the Cities of Service grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. In August 2018, the City of Lancaster was awarded a $25,000 grant as well as two AmeriCorps VISTA members to help manage the program for two years.