Hamilton now accepting micro-grants for neighborhoods

In 2016, “We got a late start due to the initial startup, finding advisory-board members, coming up with an application,” said Alfred Hall, a member of the volunteer advisory board.

“Last year we were flying by our pants, but we got it done,” Hall said. “I believe our prospects of getting more applications, higher-quality applications that are more meaningful are greatly enhanced by us getting an early start and a structured start to the process.”

Already this year, “The 17 Strong micro-grant application is available to apply for,” Hall said. The advisory board not only organized the grant program and selects the recipients, but also will go even more out of its way this year to explain to interested residents how to fill out application forms to maximize their chances of success.

Grants will be awarded to a neighborhood in amounts from $500 to $3,000. Two or more neighborhoods can join together to increase the amounts they can receive and gain extra points in the scoring of requests.

Applications must be received by March 15. The panel hopes to announce who has won the grants by mid-April.

The application form for the micro-grants is available online by clicking here.

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READ MORE ABOUT THE 17 STRONG INITIATIVE:

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“Any citizen, group of citizens or neighborhood association can apply for it,” Hall said. “It has to be a Hamilton group of citizens or Hamilton association made up of neighborhood citizens.”

“We’re going to be advertising it more, marketing more, promoting it more, doing technical sessions to make sure people understand how to fill out the form,” said Hall, who last week provided his first technical session to the Southeast Civic Association, which represents the city’s 2nd and 4th wards.

“We hope to receive applications from all 17 neighborhoods,” City Council member Kathleen Klink said.

The overall purpose for the grants, according to the committee, is to promote resident engagement, enhance neighborhood beautification, improve community safety, create economic development and address other neighborhood needs or aspirations.

“The micro-grants are all about having safe, clean and engaged neighborhoods,” Klink said. “That’s the impetus behind them.”

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17 Strong grant application assistance meetings

These are times and locations of the 17 Strong Micro-Grant Technical Sessions, where people can learn how to fill out applications for the funds. Anybody can attend any of the sessions.