City of Newark Love Your Block Mini-Grants Program Application

Thank you for applying to the 2021 City of Newark: Love Your Block Newark Mini-Grant Program!

Please keep in mind the following before beginning the proposal:

1. This proposal takes approx. 30 minutes to complete

2. To save and return to this application you must create a VISITOR ACCOUNT in order to come back to your application.

3. Items you will need to successfully complete this application are:

Contact information for each volunteer team member. 6 of your volunteers must be Newark residents: (full name, phone number, email address)
Your budget with itemized materials
A step-by-step project plan
3 images of your project site

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 hyper-local 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 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.
Greenspace & vacant lot activation: Increase community benefits surrounding underused, vacant buildings, city-owned parks, open spaces, and other areas of community significance.

Deadlines & Dates to Remember:

Application Portal Open for Submissions

Grant Proposals Due

Selection Committee Review Period

Grantee Announcement

Three Month Project Implementation Period

Reimbursement Invoices Due

Final Report Due

Sunday, February 14, 2021 12:00 P.M.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 12:00 P.M.

late March-early April

late April

May - July

May - July

August 15th

Project teams are expected to complete their projects within 3 months of grant distribution. Ideally, project implementation begins May 1 and is completed by July 31, 2021.

How To Apply:

To be considered, your project must meet all eligibility criteria, have understanding that this grant is reimbursement based only and project proposal forms must be completed and submitted either electronically or in-person by Wednesday, March 24th, 12:00 P.M.

Email: gordonj@ci.newark.nj.us or agostofilionn@ci.newark.nj.us
Online: https://newarknj.gov/LoveYourBlock

Drop-Off In-Person:

Office of Sustainability, City of Newark

Attn: Love Your Block Mini-Grant Program

920 Broad Street, Rm. B-12

Newark, NJ 07102

2020 Love Your Block Mini-Grants Program

Section I: Primary Contact Information

Full Name

Title/Role (if applying as an existing organization or community group)

Phone Number

Altenate Phone Number

Are You a Newark Resident?

Preferred Method of Communication

Text

Phone Call

How did your hear about Love Your Block?

Co-Lead Contact Name

Co-Lead Phone Number

Co-Lead's Email

Co-Lead Preferred Method of Communication

Text

Phone Call

Section II: Project Information

1. Project Name

2. Group Name (if applicable):

3. Project Site Location (Please be specific, provide address and block/lot if available):

3a. Upload "BEFORE" Image 1 of the Current Project Space:

Click Here to Upload

3b. Upload "BEFORE" Image 2 of the Current Project Space:

Click Here to Upload

3c. Upload "BEFORE" Image 3 of the Current Project Space:

Click Here to Upload

4. Project Summary* (50-60 word limit describing your overall vision for the project for use on City of Newark website and promotional materials):

5. Please describe how your project will reduce blight and create community impact.* (500 word limit) What are the current blight conditions in your project area? How will your project prevent or reduce blight conditions? What are the community benefits you anticipate will be created through your project? What negative elements does this project help to address?

6. Please describe how this project advances the broader goals of City of Newark (e.g., Newark Forward report, Sustainability Action Plan, Cultural Plan, Master Plan, and/or any other city-wide initiatives, etc.), or helps to achieve the goals of your local neighborhood development plan?

7. Which of the Love Your Block Mini-Grants Program Goals does this project address?

Community Clean-Ups (i.e., Reduce litter, or improve recycling and waste management throughout the City of Newark)

Minor Exterior Home Repairs (i.e., Repurpose underutilized properties and parcels to increase community benefits surrounding underused and vacant buildings and lots)

Vacant Lot Activation (i.e., Create a sense of pride of ownership in residential areas, City-owned parks and open spaces, and other areas of community significance)

8. Describe your background and/or your organization history and mission. Do you have any prior experience with similar projects? Please explain. Please summarize your project timeline. Include anticipated project kick-off and completion dates, and how you expect to handle potential project delays.

9. Do you intend on partnering with another group on this project?

Yes

9a. If so, please explain:

10. Are there any obstacles or roadblocks that could limit the success of your project? How do you intend to address these potential challenges?

11. Briefly describe how you have involved neighbors in the development of your proposed project. Please address the following questions in your response. A. How did this project idea come about? Did you consult with individuals living, working, or recreating in the vicinity of the project site? B. Who or what do you need for successful project implementation? C. Have you secured the appropriate permissions needed to advance this initiative? If not, what is your outreach plan for involving these individuals or organizations, if your project is selected for a mini-grant award? D. How will you notify stakeholders located in the vicinity of the project site about your project plans?

12a. Anticipated Project Kick-off Date (between May-July, 2021)

12b. Anticipated Project Completion Date (Between May - July, 2021)

13. Please explain how you intend to sustain your project beyond the grant period and who will be responsible for on-going maintenance of the project site.

Section III: Required Forms

In this section, you will describe the goals, resources, project steps, leaders, project completion schedule, and budget associated with your proposed project. Additionally, attached is the scoring rubric by which your project submission will be measured.

We recommend using your mouse/keypad to right click on the "Required Forms" link and open a "New Tab" to complete this section.

Upon completion, on the next page you will be able to upload your "Required Forms"

The Team Leadership form is a table where all the information (name, phone, address, email) for your volunteers will live and be referenced throughout your project.

The Implementation Plan is a general outline of how you will approach your work for the duration of the project period, how you will keep track of your resources, and your plans for on-going maintenance after grant funds are depleted.

The Budget Worksheet is an outline of expected materials, equipment, services, and other expenses anticipate in order to complete your project. Please be specific wherever possible, and indicate whether a price quote has already been secured.

An application package is only deemed complete if applicants submit of the required forms (listed below) in addition to application Sections I - III)

Project Support & Team Leadership Form
Implementation Plan
Budget Worksheet
Signed Agreement Form
Partnership Donation Worksheet (Optional)

Scoring Rubric

Upload Required Forms - Project Support Form

Click Here to Upload

Upload Required Forms - Implementation Plan

Click Here to Upload

Upload Required Forms - Budget Worksheet

Click Here to Upload

Upload Required Forms- Signed Agreement Form

Click Here to Upload

Upload Required Forms- Partnership Donation Form

Click Here to Upload

Section VI: Agreements

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 May 2021 and be complete July 2021, or within the City approved project implementation period upon.
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 LYB grantee orientation
If you answered “yes” to all of the questions listed above, you may date and sign below to confirm your submission.

Lead Signature:

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.