The NYC Service and Citizens Committee have launched program to provide grants to support 25 community groups in improving their neighborhood. On September 24, 2018, the NYC Service and Citizens Committee for New York City announced the launch of the 2019 “Love Your Block” Program which will provide $1,000 grants to 25 different community groups. The application requires community groups and leaders to provide a detailed action plan for engaging local residents in participating in the project. The application requires the group to provide a list of a volunteer-led group of no less than twenty people, and to plan and prepare for a “block beautification” event that the grant would provide for.

The goal of the grants is to provide initiative to these local groups to transform and upkeep their neighborhoods, build stronger community ties, and creating a space for neighbors to engage and work together to sustainably improve their communities. Resident-led volunteer groups are encouraged to submit proposals here by November 7^th, 2018. Applications will be evaluated by whether the group is volunteer-led, without paid staff and must demonstrate the ability to mobilize a minimum of 20 volunteers, work with two out of four City agency partners for services; and projects must help address a shared community need (e.g. tree plaint, graffiti removal, speed bumps).

“Love Your Block is about partnering with residents and giving them the support and resources to become neighborhood change agents,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Building a healthier democracy means engaging our residents in opportunities to make a difference in the life of their community, so I encourage every resident-led group to apply and propose community solutions that will help us continue to build thriving neighborhoods.”

Groups must have a detailed and realistic action plan for engaging residents to carry out a physical transformation of the public spaces on their block and willingness to measure impact on their community. Specifically, each group must:

• Identify a block beautification event and request the utilization of a minimum of two (2) City services as a core part of its Love Your Block project.
• Be volunteer-led, without any paid staff. Eligible groups include, but are not limited to: neighborhood, tenant and block associations as well as community garden groups and school-based groups.
• Demonstrate the ability to mobilize a minimum of 20 neighborhood volunteers to take part in the revitalization of their block. *Groups must provide a roster list of volunteers.
• Include one block beautification event date in your group’s action plan between April 13^th and June 23^rd, 2019.
• Send two project leaders to a grant orientation/Q&A workshop where they will meet with representatives from Citizens Committee for New York City, NYC Service, New York City Department of Transportation, Department of Sanitation, Department of Environmental Projection, and NYC Parks & Recreation.
  • This Love Your Block Grantee Orientation will be held on December 4^th and Dec 11^th from 6pm to 7:30pm at the offices of NYC Service (253 Broadway, 8^th floor, New York, NY 10007). Please hold the date.
• All Love Your Block Grantees must submit all City agency service request forms by January 14^th, 2019.
• Complete a final report within 15 days of the event date that includes: documentation of participating volunteers, a detailed budget with receipts before & after pictures of project site, documentation of City services requested and received, as well as a description of the beautification project.
• Funds from the grant will not cover the following: rent, utilities, web hosting, web development, 501 (c)(3) incorporation fees, salaries, speaker honorariums, computer equipment, and food costs of over $100.
• For additional information, please contact James at JGarcia@cityhall.nyc.gov or 212-676-9749. or visit https://a002-irm.nyc.gov/EventRegistration/RegForm.aspx?eventGuid=ece9b5e3-128a-4daa-a23a-3c155187bf9a