City of Montgomery, AL

The purpose of the neighborhood grant program is to empower citizens to improve the overall quality of life in their neighborhoods through citizen and government partnerships.  The grant requires a match (monetary or in-kind) to complete neighborhood-proposed projects that foster self-help, self-management, and neighborhood pride as well as enhance and beautify the neighborhood. Funds are awarded based on merit with a maximum being $5,000.

We received the applications in December, divvied those up for site visits with our Advisory Board, and will meet in January to determine how much each neighborhood will receive.  The Neighborhood Services Advisory Committee consisting of community members will review each application and determine if the review meets the criteria for funding approval.

Applications will be screened by the Neighborhood Services Staff and then reviewed, ranked and scored by the Neighborhood Services Advisory Committee. The number of awards available is based on available funding for the Neighborhood Services Program annually.  Neighborhood Services reserves the right to deny any grant request.

Public Safety/Public Works Program or Initiatives
Training, crime or fire prevention, traffic deterrent or calming project studies (this is not to replace the work of the City or County of Montgomery, but to support neighborhood-driven initiatives over and above the natural scope of work). 

Cultural, Education, Community Involvement, and Recreational Programs
Literacy programs, leadership training, computer labs, after-school enrichment programs, cultural arts programs, and summer camps, community fairs, community/neighborhood recruitment events, parties with a purpose (NNO and the like).

Neighborhood Plan (Charrette) or Study
This would allow a neighborhood to pay a consultant or area expert to lead them in a neighborhood plan or focus work on a particular problem area that may warrant physical improvement through infrastructure changes. 
*This would need to be coordinated with the planning department and council/commission representative to be certain other efforts are not already underway.

Technical Assistance/Marketing
This includes website design, and maintenance, specialty flyers, pamphlets, promoting events, booklets for neighborhood projects, etc. 

Neighborhood Associations, Homeowner Associations, Neighborhood Watch groups, and neighborhood groups may apply.  All projects are required to have a project coordinator as the primary point of contact.

Grants are not available to individuals, businesses, universities, foundations, political or fraternal organizations, churches, neighborhood alliances, or apartment complexes.  (This is not an exhaustive list.)  Eligible applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with these ineligible groups to plan and implement projects. The eligible applicant must retain the primary role in the partnership.