Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant Program

The City of Bloomington’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development offers support for small-scale neighborhood projects that advance goals in the 2021 Climate Action Plan. The purpose of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant Program is to strengthen the sustainability of our communities and spark residential-level participation in meeting climate action objectives. The City seeks to inspire citizens’ investment in these communal climate goals by providing the financial means to take the first step. 

About the Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant

Applicants can request up to a maximum of $1,000 for a Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 1, 2025 or until the $10,000 grant program budget is depleted. Funds can be used for an ongoing long-term project or one-time investment.

Projects awarded funds through this grant will encourage neighborhood adoption of sustainability practices. The application requires completion of a questionnaire, which consists of open-ended questions about the project details, logistics, timeline, budget, and impact on the neighborhood. 

A few examples of projects that may qualify for a Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant are listed below:

• Build a community garden to share locally-grown food
• Install a rain garden to reduce storm water runoff
• Plant a native pollinator garden or native trees
• Install a neighborhood organic waste collection box for composting
• Update the energy efficiency of neighborhood assets
• Install solar for communal neighborhood buildings
• Purchase electric-powered lawn equipment for neighborhood upkeep
• Buy a group TerraCycling box
• Host an educational campaign with local experts on a sustainable topic, such as a home weatherization DIY, vehicle maintenance, or native landscaping
• Other: applicants can propose any sustainability-related project idea

Eligibility Requirements

Qualifying applications may fall into two categories, a project team application or designated organization application:

Project Team Application

A Project Team can submit an application when the following criteria is met:

• a minimum of 4 separate households within a neighborhood or nearby the project who will oversee and implement the project
• the application is required to have a designated Project Liaison from one of the four households

Designated Organization Application 

A Project Team of minimum 4 separate households can partner with the organization types listed below to complete a project. The Project Team must assign a team member to be the Project Liaison for the project, who will be listed in the grant application. The Designated Organization can submit the application on behalf of the Project Team. 

• Registered neighborhood association
• Multifamily unit association
• Civic or community service association
• Education, ethnic, cultural or religious organization
• Non-profit organization 

The following set of requirements must be met to qualify for a Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant:

• The following are not eligible to apply: for-profit entities, a single household, government agencies/departments, non-place-based organizations, and project teams with members who do not live within the neighborhood or nearby.
• Project team members must reside nearby the project location or within the neighborhood area (a formal neighborhood association is not required). If the project is connected to a school, the team members should reside within the school district.
• Projects must occur within Bloomington city limits. Check the address of the proposed project location at bloomington.in.gov/mybloomington. The project may include multiple non-adjacent locations within a neighborhood.
• The Project Liaison is responsible for communication with the City during the application process, management of grant funds and project expenses, and delivery of the project report after completion.
• Funds will be used for new projects or new updates to existing projects. Projects must receive approval before proceeding, and therefore completed projects will not be considered.
• Projects must be completed within a year of receiving the grant. Grant recipients are required to report the results of their project within one year of signing the grant agreement. The report must include receipts of purchases for the project.
• No match funding is required.
• Funds cannot be used for the applicants’ or designated organization’s operating or administrative expenses.
• The following documents are required in the application: application questionnaire, including the timeline of project implementation after funding is received and budget sheet; letters of commitment from each team member.
• Additional documentation may be required or highly encouraged, depending on the project, such as: property owner letter of authorization, letters of support, neighborhood volunteer signatures, contractor quotes, permits or permit applications, and documentation of additional funding sources such as pledged donations.
• The Project Liaison or designated organization will be required to submit a W-9 and EFT form in order for the grant award to be electronically disbursed by the City.
• The project goals and objectives should be focused on sustainability. The project goals could be one of the following:
  • Divert organic waste from landfills
  • Increase recycling
  • Increase local food supply
  • Strengthen community resilience to health and safety impacts of climate change
  • Improve the connectivity and functionality of greenspaces
  • Increase native plant cover and pollinator restoration areas
  • Increase tree canopy
  • Promote water conservation or increase water uptake capacity of greenspace
  • Reduce emissions from lawn equipment or offroad motorized equipment
  • Increase energy efficiency or renewable energy sources
  • Promote walking, biking, or riding the bus as modes of transportation
  • Increase green infrastructure
  • Other: applicants can suggest additional project goals related to sustainability

Program Process and Application Steps

1. Project Determination

Prior to applying, interested neighborhoods should work together to determine a project that could benefit their neighborhood and the amount of funding needed to complete the project. Project proposals must list a minimum of 4 separate households who will oversee and implement the project. 

• After forming the project team, determine a Project Liaison who will function as the point of contact between the City staff, the project team, and the designated organization (if applicable). The Project Liaison should be the one to submit the application and manage the funding.
• If partnering with a Designated Organization, the roles and responsibilities between the organization and the Project Team should be provided in the application. The organization can submit the application for this type of project team.
• The Project Liaison should reach out to the Planning & Transportation department to review any ordinances or permit requirements that may be relevant to the project. Certain projects may also require approval from the Public Works, Engineering, and Utilities departments before applying. For initial assistance with contacting City, reach out to the grant program manager at sustain@bloomington.in.gov. 

2. Project Application 

The Project Liaison or the Designated Organization should submit an application via the grant portal on CiviForm. The application will require the following information: 

• Project team member information
• Project location
• A project questionnaire, provided as a separate downloadable form linked here, which asks questions about:
  • Project description and justification
  • Budget details
  • Project timeline
  • Long-term maintenance plan (if relevant)
• Letters of commitment from each team member
• A map, drawing, or other visual representation of the project
• Additional documentation as needed (contractor quotes, permits, property owner authorization letter, etc.)

Members of the Bloomington Commission on Sustainability are available to help with grant applications.

The following websites provide helpful guidance on how to write a grant application:

How to Write an Effective Project Narrative - NYFA

Tips for Stronger Grant Proposals - Instrumentl

If you need assistance with your application, please email sustain@bloomington.in.gov.

3. Application Review

City staff will conduct a thorough review of the application to determine if the project advances sustainability and is qualified for funding. City staff may reach out to discuss the application or ask for additional details before approval.

A good application will contain the following:

• Clearly explains how the project advances sustainability within the community
• Well-developed logistics for project execution within a one year timeline
• Demonstrates benefits that extend to the entire neighborhood
• Includes a complete budget and how the costs were determined (e.g. a contractor quote or link to purchasing website)
• Preference is given to projects that are located in a Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool census tract.

4. Grant Agreement

Once the project proposal is approved, a grant agreement letter will be signed by the City of Bloomington and the Project Liaison or Designated Organization. 

5. Funding Distribution

The City will request the completion of a W-9 and Electronic Fund Transmission (EFT) form by the Project Liaison or Designated Organization in order for the grant to be distributed.
 

6. Project Implementation  

Once the grant agreement is signed and grant funds are distributed, project teams should begin implementation of their project. Approved projects must be completed within a year of the grant agreement. 

7. Final Report

Teams should maintain all records related to the financial investment of their projects including receipts, proposals, purchase orders, or contracts. Once completed, the Project Liaison will be required to submit these documents in a final report that provides proof of project completion to City staff.