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Office of Neighborhoods 2010 Neighborhood Large Project Grant Call for Proposals The City of Missoula, Office of Neighborhoods is excited to offer another year of the Neighborhood Large Project Grant program. We invite Neighborhood Councils and Neighborhood Associations in Missoula to apply. Individuals are also encouraged to apply but must work closely with either a Neighborhood Council or Neighborhood Association to qualify as a neighborhood project. Our goal is to strengthen neighborhood participation and build opportunities for neighborhood communication, neighborhood- initiated projects, interaction and problem-solving. We look forward to working with neighborhoods, community organizations and individuals that share our goal of strengthening neighborhood participation. The Neighborhood Large Project Grant program provides $18,000 each year to neighborhood-initiated or sponsored projects. Grantees can apply for a maximum of $3000 to conduct neighborhood planning, neighborhood improvement and neighborhood outreach. The Neighborhood Large Project Grant program invites citizens of Missoula to take pride in their community by developing neighborhood-specific projects that encourage and celebrate our people and place. Thanks goes to Mayor John Engen and the support of the City Council for funding this critical resource for neighborhood building purposes in Missoula’s neighborhoods. Sincerely, Community Forum Members & Office of Neighborhoods Timeline April Request for Proposals April 28, Pre-Application Workshop May – August Work on Proposals September 10th, Grant Applications Due September 13th – October 1st, Agency & Project Grant Committee Review October 29, Final Submission Deadline November Community Forum Review December City Council Approval January Awards Announced Our goal is to strengthen neighborhood participation and build opportunities for neighborhood communication, neighborhood- initiated projects and problem solving. ---PAGE BREAK--- Submission Deadline: Proposals must be received by: Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted in person or by mail to: City of Missoula Office of Neighborhoods 435 Ryman St. Missoula, MT 59802 Funds Available: As part of the Neighborhood Large Project Grant program, up to $18,000 will be made available to Missoula Neighborhoods. Individuals are also encouraged to apply but must work closely with either a Neighborhood Council or Neighborhood Association to qualify as a neighborhood project. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process. Proposed grant dollar amounts may range from $200 to $3000. If the first round of funding contains too many ineligible grant proposals, the Neighborhood Project Funds committee may call for a second round of funding. Project timeframe for completion: Grants will be awarded for projects intended to commence after January 1, 2011 and be completed by January 31, 2012. Extensions on projects can be made given reasonable cause. For More Information: The grant program is administered by the Office of Neighborhoods. Proposals must affect one or more Neighborhood Council(s) or Association(s). Boundaries of Neighborhood Councils and Neighborhood Associations can found at www.missoula-neighborhoods.org. For questions or clarification please contact: Erin Scott, Neighborhood Liaison Office of Neighborhoods [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] Friday September 10, 2010 by 5pm ---PAGE BREAK--- Eligibility Requirements Proposed projects must meet the following eligibility requirements in order for the project grant application to proceed. Projects must take place within the city limits. Projects must be sponsored by a Neighborhood Council or Neighborhood Association. Sponsorship requires that a community organization or individual garner support from the Neighborhood Council or Neighborhood Association in which the project will take place, unless such a group does not exist in the project area. (see Attachment B for further information). Projects must provide documentation that residents surrounding the project area support the project. (see Attachment B for further information) Funds Cannot Be Used For: Direct social services Ongoing general organizational support or overhead Direct grants, scholarships or loans for the benefit of a specific individual Loans or debt Annual appeals or fundraisers Emergency funding Event insurance or event alcohol permits Business Promotion Pre-Application Workshop Parties interested in applying for a Neighborhood Large Project Grant are encouraged to attend the pre-application workshop. This session will help answer questions about the application, the committee review process, use of funds and provide technical assistance for writing the grant. Grant applications will be available at this workshop. Participation in this workshop is strongly recommended, though not required. Wednesday April 28, 2010 6:00 to 7:30 pm Jack Reidy Conference Room 140 W Pine St Please call seven days in advance for special needs accommodations. The site is wheelchair accessible. ---PAGE BREAK--- Criteria for Selection & Requirements Guidelines: Proposed projects must be neighborhood specific and must fall under one of the following three focus areas: 1. Neighborhood Planning Examples: projects that seek to guide the future direction of a neighborhood. Feasibility Studies are developed to determine a neighborhood project’s viability. It also helps neighborhoods make a decision on whether to proceed with a project. It could also be a way to determine solutions to a neighborhood problem and provide a recommendation on the best alternative. Neighborhood resource mapping. Identifying the skills and talents of local residents, as well as the capabilities available or possible through local organizations and institutions. Resource mapping, collectively, offers neighborhoods the wherewithal to address the multitude of important issues impacting the area. Neighborhood Plans. Seeks to build on the of the neighborhood, identify and address issues facing the neighborhood, and discuss and develop consensus on the future direction of the area. Neighborhood Surveys. Seek to understand the needs, problems or resources of a neighborhood. o These are just examples of what can be done under neighborhood planning. Creative ideas for planning are encouraged. All planning proposals should indicate a direct positive impact on a specific neighborhood(s). 2. Neighborhood Improvement Examples: projects that benefit the general quality of life in a neighborhood, are continually accessible by the public, and seek to improve the physical dynamics of a neighborhood. Infrastructure modifications such as creating more sidewalk, curb, gutter, or trails. Landscape modifications such as planting trees in a nearby park, creating a community garden, or landscaping an entrance to the neighborhood. Facility modifications or development such as parks, neighborhood common areas, playground equipment, athletic fields, dog parks etc. Public art is also included in this section as long as it seeks to improve the physical dynamic of the neighborhood. Any equipment requests for items such as shovels, tools, projectors, tables, chairs etc. to be used for infrastructure modifications will require the grantee to show that this equipment has benefit to the neighborhood project in the future and the neighborhood can access the equipment in the future. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Neighborhood Outreach Examples: projects that strengthen neighborhood participation and build opportunities for neighborhood communication, interaction and problem-solving. Neighborhood Council or Neighborhood Association training or workshops to acquire knowledge or skills in directing the participation of neighborhood residents. Neighborhood organizing projects which bring neighborhood residents together in pursuit of a common neighborhood goal. Neighborhood event or block party with a specific intent of increasing neighborhood participation and involvement in the neighborhood, a neighborhood project, or neighborhood activity. Wednesday April 28, 2010 Pre-application Workshop Read through a successful application. Identify the committee review process & use of funds. Answer questions about your application. Gain technical assistance for grant writing. Details Jack Reidy Conference Room 140 W. Pine St. 6:00 – 7:30pm Thursday August 26, 2010 Question & Answer with City Staff Come to this workshop with an application for review. Bring specific questions for City staff. Identify any gaps in your application. Only 2 more weeks until the application deadline. Details Jack Reidy Conference Room 140 W. Pine St. 6:00 – 7:00pm Friday September 10, 2010 Application Deadline Complete applications must be received by 5pm. Applications must meet all eligibility requirements. Submit Applications To: The Office of Neighborhoods 435 Ryman Ave. Missoula, MT 59802 September 13 – September 24 Office of Neighborhoods Review Agency Review ---PAGE BREAK--- September 27 – October 1 Neighborhood Project Funds Committee Review Friday October 29, 2010 Final Submittal Thursday November 18, 2010 Neighborhood Project Funds Committee Review & Recommendation Public Comment Period Summary and Review of Applications Committee Evaluation Final Recommendation Details City Council Chambers 140 W. Pine St. 6:00 – 8:30pm Thursday November 25, 2010 Community Forum Recommendation by Neighborhood Project Funds Committee to Community Forum Community Forum vote and recommendation to Administration and Finance (A & F) Committee for approval Details City Council Chambers 140 W. Pine St. 7:00 – 9:00pm November/December Administration & Finance (A & F) Committee December City Council Meeting City Council vote on Neighborhood Project Funds Details City Council Chambers 140 W. Pine St. 7:00 – 9:00pm ---PAGE BREAK--- January NPF Project Coordinator Meeting Grantees funded meet to sign contracts and learn about how to utilize grant funds Details Jack Reidy Conference Room 140 W. Pine St. TBA Reporting Requirements if Awarded Grant 1. Quarterly reports. 2. A final evaluation must be completed and returned to the Office of Neighborhoods by January 31st, 2012 . If project is not complete a request for extension must be requested prior to the end of the grant cycle. 3. Returning grantees must have completed and returned all quarterly reports and the final evaluation in order to be eligible to re-apply in any following grant cycle.