[City of El Paso] Love Your Block 2023 Mini-Grant Application

The City of El Paso Love Your Block 2023 Mini-Grant Application

Supported by the City of El Paso and Cities of Service, the Love Your Block program provides mini-grants to residents, community members, and organizations to support small-scale, neighborhood revitalization projects through volunteerism and community participation. The goal is for each project selected to improve residents’ quality of life, promote a high level of community engagement, and address/support a neighborhood concern or initiative.

Neighborhoods of Focus Map

How it Works:
Grant applications are reviewed on a first-come-first-serve basis. Connecting with the City staff team to discuss project proposals prior to submitting a grant application is highly encouraged to discuss feasibility, budget, logistics, etc. With limited funding available, the sooner a grant application is submitted, the better! Submissions of this application can be submitted online or dropped off with City staff at the Center for Civic Empowerment, 304 Texas Ave, El Paso, TX (17^th Floor) Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Love Your Block grants may not exceed $2,500 for volunteer-driven, neighborhood project proposals.
Grant funding is strictly allocated for projects that take place within the Year 2 neighborhoods of focus:
- Angels Triangle/Mountain View North
- Five Points East
- Washington/Delta
- Cedar Grove/Styles Garden
Once a grant application is submitted, a City staff member will be in touch within 5-7 business days to discuss your proposal.
All project proposals are subject to program review; submitting an application does not guarantee project approval or funding.
All awarded projects must be completed no later than December 9^th, 2023.

Requirements:

A minimum of 5 volunteers from the neighborhoods of focus are required for each project to demonstrate community buy-in and engagement; the more volunteers the better!
Attend a project coordination and budget meeting to discuss and solidify plans, logistics, and dates for community workday(s) before project implementation.
Signed and executed Love Your Block Grantee agreements: these will be drafted and provided by City staff.
If the proposed project is taking place on private property, the grant application must include the property owner’s contact information.

Evaluation Criteria
The Love Your Block (LYB) team will consider the strength of the application based on the following:

Community Impact & Sustainability Plan: This is a critical factor in the competitiveness of an application. The LYB team is seeking to partner with residents to revitalize and strengthen El Paso neighborhoods over several years. A strong grant application will indicate future plans for how neighbors will improve their physical and social blocks. It is a key component of the sustainability plan to include how the property owner(s) and residents will be involved and how the project will benefit the community.
Volunteer-Led: Groups that demonstrate how they will work together and assist each other in their block improvements are more competitive. It is encouraged to recruit neighborhood volunteers to help assist with the improvements. Volunteers are an essential part of these projects; therefore, it is very important that applicants consider having volunteers when applying.
Clustered Properties: Applications that call for property improvements that take place in a concentrated area are more likely to be funded than applications where houses are separated by great distances. We encourage applicants to speak to their neighbors and/or community partners to discuss applying together, if possible.
Public Space/Vacant Land Activation: Applications that propose improvements on public spaces or pieces of land that are neglected to turn them into something great are strongly encouraged.

Funds May Be Used For:
Grant funding may be used for the resources needed to complete the proposed project. Examples include, but not limited to, the following:

Gallons of paint, brushes, rollers, trays, etc
Lumber
Cement
Tools
Water/snacks

Funds May Not Be Used For:
Interior home/property improvements, administration of mini-grant to another person or organization, political events, alcoholic beverages, entertainment, rent or utilities, speaker fees, computer equipment, scholarships or other direct support to individuals or families, improvement projects that primarily serve churches and/or other religious organizations and not the overall community, and items or services for personal use.

Questions:
For any questions, assistance in filling out your grant application, or additional information regarding the Love Your Block program, please call (915) 212-1651 or email loveyourblock@elpasotexas.gov.

Application Information

Group Name (if applicable):

Project Lead Name:

Phone Number

Project Co-Lead Name:

Project Co-Lead Phone Number:

Project Co-Lead Email:

Project Proposal

Is the project located on public or private property?

Public

Private

If the project takes place on private property, please provide the property owner’s contact information. The owner will be contacted by LYB staff to sign a letter of permission to confirm their support of the project.

Project Description

Main goals & objectives of the project:

How will this project build community within the neighborhood(s)?

What inspired you to apply and what do you hope to see as a long-term result of your project?

How will it be maintained?

Volunteer List

A minimum of 5 volunteers from the neighborhood in which the project is being done are required for each project. Please write the name and addresses of the volunteers below. If you need assistance in recruiting volunteers, please contact the LYB team.

Volunteer 1

Name:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Volunteer 2

Name:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Volunteer 3

Name:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Volunteer 4

Name:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Volunteer 5

Name:

Phone Number:

Zip Code:

Budget

How much are you requesting for this project? (Maximum funding is $2,500)

Please include a breakdown of your expected project budget (Materials, paint, tools, water, food, etc.). We encourage you to visit a Home Depot, Lowe’s, or preferred vendor’s website to itemize your budget. For example 6 ft ladder: $99.88, 2 gallons of paint + primer: $65.98, 1 32 gallon trash bin: 22.97, etc.

Application Attachments

Before pictures (encouraged, not mandatory).

Upload File(s)

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First Name

Last Name

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Upon registration, I the applicant, grant permission and give my consent to the Love Your Block team to take and use photograph(s), videos, or electronic media images taken during the projects for general promotional purposes freely and voluntarily acknowledge that to the fullest extent permitted by law, I the Applicant, shall, and hereby, do release, defend, indemnify and hold harmless City and City’s officers, elected officials, employees, agents, and consultants from and against all claims, costs, loses, and damages, and all court arbitration, or other dispute resolution costs arising out of or relating to the project or this Agreement including those caused by, or alleged to have been caused by, any act or failure to act of City or any of the released parties.

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