Neighborhood Investment Program

Transcription

1 Neighborhood Investment Program What is the Neighborhood Investment Program? The Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) program is part of the City s Energize Our Neighborhoods initiative. The program funds comprehensive neighborhood plans and capital construction projects to help enrich the lives of our residents, enhance the identity and quality of life in our neighborhoods and encourage a strong sense of community. Neighborhood input is a valued aspect of the program. Active neighborhood associations are invited to generate ideas for Neighborhood Investment projects. The program is competitive and awards are limited by available funding. Preference will be given to projects that align well with other City priorities. In-kind match, including cash and volunteer hours is encouraged and will strengthen your application. Boise s neighborhood planners are available to help neighborhoods refine project scope. Please call for help with a proposal. Eligible Projects Eligible projects will contribute to strong and healthy neighborhoods through resident involvement and engagement in the identification, planning, and implementation processes. Funded projects will provide a public benefit to all members of the community. Projects approved in the past include: Community Garden, Central Bench Neighborhood (2016) Playground Equipment, Cynthia Mann Elementary, Collister Neighborhood (2015) Electrical Service, Borah Park, Borah Neighborhood (2014) Boise Hills Park, Bike Path and Landscaping Boise Heights Neighborhood (2013) General Requirements City Registered Neighborhood Associations are eligible to apply for project funding. Individuals and community groups must work with their neighborhood association to apply. All projects must be planned in public spaces (eligible locations include public right of way areas, City parks, or on Boise School District grounds). Homeowners associations are not eligible for these grants. What is Energize Our Neighborhoods? Healthy neighborhoods are the building blocks of livability. Energize Our Neighborhoods is a collaboration between Boise s residents, public and private partners, and the City to keep our neighborhoods unique and desirable. Process Timeline Applications, along with the necessary supporting documentation, must be submitted via ZoomGrants no later than midnight on January 31, Go to Energize. cityofboise.org for the application. All Neighborhood Associations planning to submit a grant application will be required to attend one of the following workshops: Oct. 18th - Collister Library! Sycamore Meeting Room, 6:30-7:30 PM Nov. 9th - Cole & Ustick Library! Sagebrush Community Rm, 6:30-7:30 PM Nov. 15th - Hillcrest Library! Lemhi Meeting Room, 6:30-7:30 PM Nov. 28th - Bown Crossing Library! Martie Brennan Room 6:30-7:30 PM Need More Information? EnergizeOurNeighborhoods.org Phone: Energize Coordinator at Energize@cityofboise.org.

2 Neighborhood Mini-Grants What is the Mini-Grant Program? Neighborhood Mini-Grants fund neighborhood association projects that enhance neighborhood livability and encourage a strong sense of community. The grants reimburse neighborhood associations for costs up to $2,000. The Mini-Grants are a component of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant (NRG) program, which is part of the City of Boise s Energize Our Neighborhoods initiative. The Mini-Grant program provides neighborhood associations with funds to complete non-capital projects that enhance their neighborhood s livability, such as clean up projects that benefit the whole neighborhood. General Requirements City Registered Neighborhood Associations are eligible to apply for grants. Individuals and community groups must work with their neighborhood association to apply. Successful projects will focus on improving the neighborhood s safety, appearance, and resident engagement through projects, communication, and events. Applicant matching shares are not required but projects with matching funds or in-kind labor will be given greater consideration for funding. Examples of eligible match include volunteer labor, donations of equipment and/or materials, or financial match from the neighborhood association or other project partners. Eligible expenses include (but are not limited to) costs for printing and mailing neighborhood newsletters, refreshments for neighborhood events, communication platforms, community garden tools, liability insurance, landfill fees, clean up supplies (paint, gloves, garbage bags, etc.) and dumpster and porta potty rental and delivery charges. Ineligible expenses include routine maintenance, ongoing operating expenses, after-event parties, or any expenditure deemed by the City to be inconsistent with the grant program purpose, or not allowed by law. Mini-Grants may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages. Eligible Projects Projects should improve the neighborhood s livability. Examples include: Cost of printing services for neighborhood newsletters Postage Cost of dumpsters and porta potties for neighborhood cleanup projects Clean up supplies (paint, gloves, garbage bags etc.) Neighborhood safety plan equipment (such as vests or flashlights) Rental equipment costs Once approved, the ZoomGrants application becomes the project agreement between the City of Boise and the Neighborhood Association. Process Timeline Applications, along with the necessary supporting documentation, must be submitted via ZoomGrants no later than midnight on January 31, Go to Energize.cityofboise.org to access the ZoomGrants application. Mini-Grant funds will be available October 1, September 15, Need More Information? EnergizeOurNeighborhoods.org Phone: Energize Coordinator at Energize@cityofboise.org.

3 Neighborhood Investment Program Policies 1. Eligible applications must meet the following requirements: a. conform to submission deadlines. b. benefit and be free and open to the general public (i.e. in public space). c. be compatible with adopted City plans and policies, including those related to ADA accessibility. d. include a formal letter of support from potential partner agencies (i.e. a project proposed on a school site requires a letter of support from the school district). 2. Phased projects require separate applications for each phase. Approval of any single phase is limited to that phase. Progress on earlier phases is considered when making decisions on new applications. 3. Applicant matching shares are strongly encouraged. To qualify, a match must be composed of expenses that would be eligible in this program. a. Eligible matches include donations of labor, equipment and/or materials, or grants from other organizations for the same plan or project. b. Ineligible matches include Boise City monies, labor, equipment and/or materials, and previous grants awarded by this program, including any related expenses. 4. Once the request is approved, the ZoomGrants application becomes the Neighborhood Association s Project Agreement. 5. All community garden requests must adhere to Boise City Community Garden Policies: 6. Project Management a. Capital projects: Boise City staff will manage all capital projects in consultation with the Neighborhood Association. b. Mini-grants: Funds are managed by the Neighborhood Association, and are paid on a reimbursement basis. Invoices and receipts are submitted into ZoomGrants by the Neighborhood Association. The City will process reimbursement requests within 30 days of submittal. Quarterly reports are required; ZoomGrants sends an automatic reminder when reports are due.

4 7. The Neighborhood Association assumes liability for all mini-grant expenditures related to the project. City project managers will assure capital project expenditures remain within approved budgets. 8. Capital projects not completed within three years due to Neighborhood Association inactivity will be cancelled. 9. All records relevant to grant funded projects must be on file with the applicant and/or project manager, and are subject to audit and inspection. If the auditor s inspection of the records discloses any charges incorrectly claimed and reimbursed, restitution must be made to the Neighborhood Investment Program. The City of Boise does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, familial status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. This document can be translated into other languages upon request. For assistance in developing Neighborhood Investment Program project applications or for questions about ZoomGrants, please contact Melinda McGoldrick: mmcgoldrick@cityofboise.org or 208/ Page 2 of 2 Updated 9/27/17

5 ENERGIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS Neighborhood Investment Program ZoomGrants Training Workshops City Project Manager Open House September 21, 5:00-7:00 PM, at the Dick Eardley Senior Center (690 Robbins Rd.) ZoomGrants Training Workshops October 3, 6:30-7:30 PM, at the Main Library (Marion Bingham Room, 3 rd floor) October 18, 6:30-7:30 PM, at the Collister Library (Sycamore Room) November 9, 6:30-7:30 PM, at the Cole & Ustick Library (Sagebrush Room) November 15, 6:30-7:30 PM, at the Hillcrest Library (Lemhi Room) November 28, 6:30-7:30 PM, at the Bown Crossing Library (Martie Brennan Room) Neighborhood Investment Program Application & Project Timeline November 1, 2017: ZoomGrants application opens January 31, 2017: ZoomGrants application closes (midnight) July 2018: Project funding announcement October 2018: Project implementation can begin