Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program

The City of Bloomington, Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) offers Neighborhood Improvement Grants annually. The program is designed to improve the quality of life within neighborhoods and in the city as a whole, by giving residents an opportunity to have direct input in the improvement of their neighborhoods.  The funds provide for neighborhood-driven projects with community-wide benefit. In 2024 the City expects to award approximately $25,000 in grant funding.

 

Eligible projects include these categories:

• physical improvements,

• public art,

• leadership training, 

• organizational capacity building projects and events.

• up to 10% of funds may be used for design development of a proposed project.

 

This grant program is intended for projects with a total cost of at least $1,100, and requires a 10% neighborhood match. The match requirement may include in-kind labor, donated materials and services, and cash.

This is a neighborhood-driven process. Successful applications will demonstrate significant neighborhood involvement and support. 

 

Past projects have included:

• neighborhood entrance signs,
• restoration of historic sidewalks,
• playground equipment,
• public art installations,
• landscaping,
• street tree planting,
• bench installation,
• native plant restoration in a neighborhood park,
• signs in Rose Hill Cemetery,
• kiosks, trash cans, dog waste stations,
• walking paths,
• historic markers/signs.

 

  

2024 Timeline

Virtual Informational Meeting--MANDATORY for any neighborhood group that has not received a grant in the past two years. A representative from neighborhood considering an application must attend ONE of these meetings. View the presentation slide deck.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 6:00 p.m.

 

- OR - 

 

Monday, January 29, 2024, 7:00 p.m. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://bloomington.zoom.us/j/88526779794?pwd=6bo42J0CB4r6ARKblh1ahOEUwNStP6.1

Meeting ID: 885 2677 9794
Passcode: 690114

 

Letter of Intent

• Due Monday, February 5, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.

• Email letter to angela.vanrooy@bloomington.in.gov.

 

Technical Assistance Meeting

• HAND will schedule meetings individually with each applicant neighborhood. 

 

Applications Due

• Monday, March 18, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.

 

Neighborhood Presentations to Grant Council (hybrid public meeting)

• Monday, April 15, 2024, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• Member of the public are welcome to join virtually (in-person space is limited)
  • Zoom link: 

    bton.in/NIpre

    Meeting ID: 845 5348 7032

    Passcode: 696210

 

Neighborhood Improvement Grant Council Work Session (virtual public meeting)

• Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

 

How to Apply--Updated 2024 guidelines and application will be available in mid-December

START with the 2024 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Application Guidelines. They provide everything you need to know about the application process. Keep the guidelines handy as you complete the application--they are your step-by-step instructions.

 

The 2024 Neighborhood Improvement Grant application form is entirely electronic. You will need a Google account to submit the application. This allows you to upload files, receive a copy of your application, and edit your application after submission. 

 

Please read through the application in its entirety before beginning to fill out the electronic form. You will be asked to upload a number of files to your application; please have these completed and ready for upload before you begin to complete the form. 

 

Links to all REQUIRED documents

Please download each form, complete it, and save your completed version. Please refer to the grant application form for information about where to upload each of your completed documents.

Project Work Plan

Volunteer Hours Computation Sheet

Notice of Presentation

Affidavit of Notice to Adjacent Property Owners

Attestation of Neighborhood Inclusivity

Neighborhood Improvement Grant Budget Template

Volunteer Commitment Form

 

Additional Resources

2024 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Guidelines

Vendor documents

Waiver, Release, and Hold-Harmless Agreement

2024 Neighborhood Services Calendar

A Guide to the Regulated Terrestrial Invasive Plant Species of Indiana

City of Bloomington Prohibited Plant Species 

City of Bloomington Policy and Procedures for Private Art Installations within the Public Right of Way

 

Need Assistance?

If your organization has an idea for which you are interested in applying for a Neighborhood Improvement Grant, contact

Angela Van Rooy

Neighborhood Services Program Manager

angela.vanrooy@bloomington.in.gov

812-349-3505.

 

 

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2023 Neighborhood Improvement Grants Awarded

Bloomington Housing Authority Resident Council

Awarded $6,410.00 to refurbish two playgrounds, in the Rev. Butler and Walnut Woods communities.

Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association

Awarded $12,590.00 to hire restoration professionals to repair Rose Hill Cemetery headstones and monuments too difficult/fragile/large for volunteers to handle. In addition, restoration professionals offered a 3-hour public workshop to teach headstone restoration techniques and skills.

Woodlands-Winding Brook HOA

Awarded $11,000.00 for the first phase of a project to convert an inoperable retention pond into a bioretention area, to include storm water mitigation features, native plantings, and community gathering spaces.

 

Special THANKS to 2023 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Council members for their service:

Bram Boyd, Grandview Hills Neighborhood Association

Deborah Myerson, Redevelopment Commission

Maria McCormick, Engineering Department

Nate Nickel, Public Works Department

Sue Tuohy, Crescent Bend Neighborhood Association

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2022 Neighborhood Improvement Grants Awarded

Arden Place Neighborhood Association

Awarded $9,000.00 to install stand-alone outdoor fitness equipment in Southeast Park. Equipment will be accessible to individuals of differing ages and fitness levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Ridge Neighborhood Association

Awarded $6,000.00 to repair eight decorative wrought iron panels, located at the two neighborhood entrances on North Dunn Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association

Awarded $6,551.74 for 20 street sign toppers, a kiosk in Building Trades Park, and signage in Rose Hill Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 Neighborhood Improvement Grant recipients!

 

Special THANKS to 2022 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Council members for their service:

Roy Aten, Engineering Department

Deborah Myerson, Redevelopment Commission

Nate Nickel, Public Works Department

Sue Tuohy, Crescent Bend Neighborhood Association

Linda Woods, Eastern Heights Neighborhood Association

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2021 Neighborhood Improvement Grants Awarded

Bloomington Housing Authority Resident Council

Awarded $5,019.16 to place additional trash cans, cigarette butt disposal cans, and pet waste stations throughout the three Bloomington Housing Authority properties (Rev. Butler, Crestmont, and Walnut Woods).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EverGreen Village Neighborhood

Awarded $1,107.60 to place a neighborhood entrance sign at the corner of Susie Street and RCA Park Drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Near West Side Neighborhood Association

Awarded $2,743.00 to paint murals on the five traffic calming circles within the neighborhood. The theme of the murals will celebrate the diverse history of the Near West Side.

 

Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association

Awarded $4,410.00 to place seven way finding signs in the Rose Hill Cemetery. This is the continuation of a grant request that was partially funded in 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. James Woods Neighborhood Association

Awarded $5,491.79 to revitalize the landscaping on a City-owned parcel at the entrance to their neighborhood along E Moores Pike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Village of Ridgefield Homeowners Association

Awarded $3,973.85 to place four ADA-compliant benches along the sidewalks within their neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodlands-Winding Brook Homeowners Association

Awarded $4,254.60 to place new neighborhood signs on either side of their neighborhood entrance. Their previous signs were removed when the City constructed a new walking path in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 Neighborhood Improvement Grant recipients!

 

 

Special THANKS to 2021 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Council members for their service:

 

Roy Aten, Engineering Department

Cindy Kinnarney, Redevelopment Commission

Nate Nickel, Public Works Department

Debora Shaw, Blue Ridge Neighborhood Association

Linda Woods, Eastern Heights Neighborhood Association

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2020 Neighborhood Improvement Grants Awarded

At its May 4, 2020 meeting the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission approved the following Neighborhood Improvement Grant funding, for a total of $14,800.74:

 

$4,532.74 to the Bloomington Housing Authority Residents' Council for “Community Engagement and Back-to-School Resource Fair”

 

 

$3,488.00 to the Park Ridge East Neighborhood Association for “Creekside Gardens and Paths—Park Ridge East Park Restoration Phase 2”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$6,780.00 the the Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association for “Rose Hill Cemetery Improvements 2020”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special THANKS to 2020 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Council members for their service:

 

Roy Aten, Planning and Transportation Department

Cindy Kinnarney, Redevelopment Commission

Nate Nickel, Public Works Department

Linda Woods, Eastern Heights Neighborhood Association

Sharon Yarber, Matlock Heights Neighborhood Association