Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program

It's never too early to start planning for the next grant cycle! If your neighborhood has a project idea, start exploring it now, in anticipation of the 2022 round of grants.

2022 grant applications will be available January 1, 2022
2022 grant deadline will be March 21, 2022

The City of Bloomington, Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) offers Neighborhood Improvement Grants annually. This grant program is intended for projects with a total cost of at least $1,100, and requires a 10% neighborhood match.

The Neighborhood Improvement Grant is designed to give residents an opportunity to have direct input in the improvement of their neighborhoods. The funds provide for non-traditional capital projects with community-wide benefit: the type that are not typically covered by traditional City programs.

Projects may include physical improvements and public art. Funds may also be used to develop designs for a proposed project. This is a neighborhood-driven process, therefore the application must demonstrate neighborhood support. Past projects have included:

neighborhood entrance signs and street sign toppers,
restoration of historic sidewalks,
playground equipment,
public art installations, and
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.

2021 Timeline

Virtual Informational Meeting--MANDATORY. All neighborhoods that are considering an application must attend.

Monday, February 1, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

Letter of Intent Due

Monday, February 15th, 2021 by 4:00 p.m.

Technical Assistance Meeting

Scheduled with each participating neighborhood

Applications Due

Monday, March 22, 2021 by 4:00 p.m.

Neighborhood Presentations to Grant Council

Monday, April 19, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
Presentation schedule and Zoom link

Neighborhood Improvement Grant Council Work Session

Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 5:00 p.m.
Agenda and Zoom link

Application--APPLICATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2021 GRANT CYCLE

The 2021 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.

START with these guidelines. They provide everything you need to know about the application process.

Waiver

All volunteers engaged in work on any project funded through the Neighborhood Improvement Grant program must complete this Volunteer Release and Hold Harmless waiver. The completed waiver should be submitted to the neighborhood project coordinator.

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.

NI grant-funded benches in Village of Ridgefield — A resident of the Village of Ridgefield enjoys a respite on one of their new ADA-compliant benches.

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, Planning and Transportation Department

Cindy Kinnarney, Redevelopment Commission

Nate Nickel, Public Works Department

Debora Shaw, Blue Ridge Neighborhood Association

Linda Woods, Eastern Heights Neighborhood Association

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”

BHARC kiosk 2020 — Three kiosks were installed at Bloomington Housing Authority properties to improve communication with residents.

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

The butterfly garden in Park Ridge East Park.

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

One of twelve cemetery section signs installed at Rose Hill Cemetery.

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