Neighbors Connecting Neighbors
VALPO JUST ANNOUNCED THE 2021 NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAMS.
March 2021
Below are the highlights and official letter with all the details.
Highlights:
Block party grants up to $500 plus other city support (read the linked application) (Eligible 5/15/21-9/5-21)
Neighborhood grants up to $15,000. Apps due by 7/31/21. Expanded to include maintenance. Join neighborhoods for up to $30,000.
Webinar about grants Wednesday 3/31/21 at 6:00.
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Official Letter
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Good morning,
The 2021 Neighborhood Improvement Grant materials are now available with a July 31 application deadline. I look forward to hearing your ideas and working with you on your applications. Many thanks to the City’s Redevelopment Commission for making these funding opportunities possible. Here are some highlights for this year, additional information is available at https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1636/Neighborhood-Improvement-Grant.
2021 Neighborhood Grant Guidelines – Grants are available for physical neighborhood improvement projects, in increments up to $15,000 per neighborhood. Multiple neighborhoods may join to together to submit one application for up to $30,000. This year’s guidelines have also expanded support for neighborhood maintenance projects and added a special block party mini-grant opportunity to support block party expenses up to $500 per neighborhood.
Grant Information Webinar Wed. March 31 at 6pm – Join us on Zoom here https://zoom.us/j/95330040450.
Block Party Grants – To encourage neighborhood engagement, we’re offering Block Party Grants of up to $500 to go towards food, entertainment or other creative ideas that bring neighbors together. Block parties can offer a time to reconnect with neighbors after distancing over the past year and can be a great opportunity to gather ideas for Neighborhood Grant Applications. Neighborhoods are encouraged to host safe and appropriately sized, outdoor gatherings to bring people together. Block Party Grants are available for events hosted between May 15 - September 5 (limit one grant per neighborhood). Additional information can be found in our grant guidelines and neighborhoods must submit this form to apply.
Hope to see you at the 3/31 webinar! Feel free to email or call with any questions.
Maggie Clifton
Community Engagement Director
City of Valparaiso / 219-462-1161 x 3356
CHECK OUT THE NIEGHBORHOOD TOOLKIT
February 2021
ANNOUNCEMENT from Maggie Clifton - Valpo Director of Community Engagement - To all Valpo neighborhood associations: (Re: The Valpo Neighborhood Toolkit has been refreshed! It includes many ideas to help neighborhood groups.)
https://issuu.com/valpoparks/docs/neighborhood_toolkit_2021_final__interactive_pdf__/38
Good morning,
I am reaching out to our neighborhood groups to send some quick updates and reminders. Look for another update from me in mid-March outlining the timeline and guidelines for 2021 Neighborhood Improvement Grants.
Our Neighborhood Toolkit has been refreshed! Check out this guide to learn more about organizing your neighborhood, services available to neighborhood groups and more – you might even see some familiar faces!
We continue to seek input on the City’s Strategic Plan – and we want to hear from you! There are two ways to get involved – take this 8-question survey or take part in a one-hour Zoom session. Visit our website for information on Zoom sessions and links to join.
As you start thinking about grant ideas, you can reference the materials from last year and our Neighborhood Grant Catalog to see pictures of previous projects.
Maggie Clifton
Community Engagement Director
City of Valparaiso / 219-462-1161 x 3356
(Note from Lou, I recommend flipping thru the Toolkit. The more ideas from the more people, the better our neighborhood will be!)
Remember you can always suggest a grant idea at the top right of this website
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MAGGIE CLIFTON - VALPO DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
February 2021
To all Valpo neighborhood associations:
(Note From Lou - Re: Request to take a survey or attend a Zoom session. I found the survey to be short and easy.)
Good afternoon,
I hope that everyone is staying warm! I am reaching out with a couple of updates for our neighborhood groups.
The City of Valparaiso is launching a new Strategic Planning process and we’re interested in learning what YOU think about Valpo. There are two ways to get involved – take an 8-question survey and share your thoughts, or take part in a one-hour Zoom session. To access the survey and find links to the Zoom sessions, which begin Feb. 15, visit: http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1725/Strategic-Plan. ***Please share this message with your neighborhood email list or social media page to help us spread the word!
2021 Neighborhood Grant Guidelines will be released in March for the upcoming grant cycle. Have thoughts or ideas to improve the program? Contact Maggie ASAP – mclifton@valpo.us or 219-462-1161.
Maggie Clifton
Community Engagement Director
City of Valparaiso / 219-462-1161 x3356
SEEKING GRANT IDEAS
June 2020
Do you have an idea to help physically improve our neighborhood?
We want your ideas! The city of Valparaiso has a grant program for small neighborhood-based projects. Eligible projects can be on city owned property or right of ways and cannot be on private property.
Our project may include physical improvements, neighborhood signs, public art displays, or other community building projects. Social events are not eligible. Last year we were granted a sidewalk extension along Burlington Beach.
More information is available on our Meeting Notes page and via the city's Neighborhood Grant website.
Please share your ideas with us via our facebook page or by submitting your idea here.
BICENTENNIAL SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
January 2020
We have a new name to better reflect who we are. Welcome to the Bicentennial Square Neighborhood Association. We became an official Valparaiso "Neighborhood Association" under the name of Concord Woods in 2019 in response to Valparaiso's new Community Engagement program. We've already hosted community get-togethers to exchange ideas, met with city officials to bring up neighborhood concerns, received funding for sidewalks, and look forward to seeing our neighbors more.
NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT FUNDING
October 2019
Our neighborhood has been awarded a $14,960 Neighborhood Improvement Grant thru the city of Valparaiso. Our grant will be used to install new sidewalk pathways to connect to Bicentennial Park. Thanks to Maggie Clifton, Valparaiso's Community Engagement Director, for her help and guidance. Thanks also to Angie Crossin and Rebecca Flannery for their work creating our submission!
STREET RAINWATER MANAGEMENT
August 2019
The City Engineer has agreed to look into fixing the drainage problem Lou Donkle brought attention to at the Lancaster and Powderhorn intersection. You may have noticed surveyors leaving their mark. We learned on the Neighborhood Walk the bids for the work were too high so the city plans to see about getting better rates next year.
VOLUNTEERS HELP GET US STARTED
June 2019
A neighborhood association requires many hands pulling together. Thank you to Kitchi Goodwin, Lou Donkle, Rebecca Flannery, Faith, Abby, and Joshua Vittitoe for distributing surveys and reaching so many neighbors. We would also like to thank and welcome our new council members - Michael Bonczyk, Angie Crossin, Lou Donkle, Ken Hudgins, Rebecca Flannery, and Faith Vittitoe.