Love Your Block Mini-Grants (Columbia, MO)

Love Your Block Mini-Grants (Columbia, MO) is sponsored by Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation via City of Columbia. Mini‑grants for resident‑led, neighborhood revitalization projects in Columbia, MO (especially northeast neighborhoods).

Love Your Block - City of Columbia Missouri opens in a new window Love Your Block is a grant program supported by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation to revitalize cities in the United States. The program provides funding for resident-led, neighborhood revitalization projects. The City of Columbia is excited to be one of 16 recipients of the grant for 2024-2026!

Love Your Block aims to support Columbia’s central neighborhoods and those who live there. opens in a new window Apply for a Love Your Block Mini-Grant Note: Form will begin accepting applications Feb. 14 .

Applications will close Sunday, March 15, 2026 . Mini-grant awards will be announced the week of April 6, 2026 . Have questions about the mini-grant process, or want to chat with staff about your idea?

Join us during our office hours! Staff will be available during these dates and times to talk one-on-one with residents about the grant application process. Saturday, Feb.

21 , from 10 a. m. to noon at Hanover Village Community Cente r ( 1601 Hanover Blvd ) Saturday, Feb.

28 , from noon to 2 p. m. at the Daniel Boone Regional Library ( 100 W Broadway ) Saturday, March 7 , from noon to 2 p.

m. at the Boone Electric Community Building ( 1413 Rangeline Street ) Saturday, March 14 , from 9 a. m.

to noon at the Community Summit (City Hall, 701 East Broadway ) This year, the Love Your Block program is calling on residents in the City of Columbia to lead neighborhood efforts, including litter pickups, park cleanups, and composting projects. As a Resident Leader, you’ll choose the location and recruit your neighbors.

Love Your Block Fellows will provide the tools, supplies, and logistical support needed to make your project a success. It’s a great opportunity to take ownership of your public spaces and build neighborhood pride opens in a new window Apply for Resident-Led Projects Frequently Asked Questions How much can I apply for? The Love Your Block Program is offering grants up to $2500 dollars.

How many Mini-Grants can I apply for? We want to reach as many neighbors as possible, so we ask that each applicant only apply for one Love Your Block Mini-Grant. One application can include multiple components or smaller elements.

When will the project start? Winners of the Love Your Block Mini-Grant Competition will be announced the week of April 6th. All projects need to be completed by August 31, 2026.

What kinds of projects can I apply for? Love Your Block Mini-Grants are available to those who want to improve their neighborhoods. Examples include neighborhood clean-up days, gardens, minor home repair, murals, signs identifying neighborhoods, and tool libraries.

What makes for a good project? Successful Love Your Block mini-grant projects should include multiple residents, have volunteer and neighbor involvement, be public facing, and address an issue that will improve the neighborhood. How are recipients selected?

Selection is through a competitive process. Grant applications will be reviewed by a selection committee and evaluated on these criteria: Location – Is the project location specified and is it within the area served by our Love Your Block project? Budget – Is the budget clear and complete with items priced accurately?

Achievability – Is the desired project result realistic? Neighborhood & Volunteer involvement – Neighborhood and volunteer involvement are clearly described. Benefits – The project addresses specific issues and needs in the community.

My group is informal and we don’t have a 501c3 designation. Can we still apply? Yes!

A specific individual will need to take the lead on communication with the Love Your Block team and receive funds on behalf of the project. My project will not be complete during this grant period. Can I still apply?

We invite you to talk with us about your project, as we may be able to connect you with other resources. Unfortunately, due to our funding guidelines, all projects must be completed by August 31, 2026. How are funds distributed?

An initial advance payment of seventy-five percent (75%) of the total award amount will be advanced to all grantees following selection. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) will be reserved until the completion of the grant program and submission of a complete final report. Unspent grant funds and funds used for ineligible costs must be returned to the City.

How and where do I submit my mini-grant application? Applications can be submitted online via our Google form, as an email attachment to [email protected] create new email , or by paper form at the City of Columbia Housing & Neighborhood Services Department at 11 N. 7th Street.

Applications should be submitted by Sunday, March 15, 2026. How much money will be distributed? Columbia’s Love Your Block grant included a total of $20,000 to work on neighborhood projects in 2026.

Some of those funds may be used for other projects in addition to mini-grants. How can the funds be used? Awarded cities will be expected to use funds in accordance with the intentions of the Love Your Block program and for direct support of the impact volunteering initiatives.

Fellowship grant funds are restricted to the direct compensation of the identified Love Your Block Fellow.

Acceptable use of project implementation grant funds includes, but is not limited to, costs associated with engaging volunteers in: Activating vacant lots or empty storefronts/buildings Transforming vacant lots into vibrant community spaces Educational outreach and skills-based support for individuals and community groups Basic code compliance repairs for homes The Johns Hopkins grant funds may not support: Services covered by existing city infrastructure, such as standard trash collection and existing staff salaries 501(c)(3) incorporation fees Improvement projects that primarily serve churches and/or other religious organizations Scholarships or other direct support to individuals or families Partisan political organizations, political candidates, fundraisers, or projects Events such as block parties, conferences, festivals, dinners, sports competitions, art exhibits, and fundraisers (e.g. dinners, walks/runs/relays, golf tournaments, and auctions) unless directly in service to the larger strategic initiative.

Capital campaigns, endowments, or endowed chairs There are several opportunities to meet directly with our staff to discuss your project. Our staff will have several sessions where we will be available to talk with applicants. More information is available at www.

CoMo. gov/volunteer, or contact us at [email protected] create new email or 573-874-7499. 2025 Love Your Block Mini-Grants Thank you to those that submitted their applications for the 2025 Love Your Block Mini-Grants!

The program received 35 applications from dedicated residents and community groups. Winning entries proposed creative solutions to address local challenges. These groups plan to work together with the City to improve neighborhoods and public spaces.

The 12 selected projects reflect a strong commitment to community pride, neighborhood beautification and civic engagement, focused on central Columbia. Winning Love Your Block projects include: Centro Latino de Salud : $2,496. 42 for new awnings to provide shade and community space for their building at 609 N.

Garth St. Community Garden Coalition : $450 for new signage for multiple community gardens. Coyote Hill : $1,050 to fund exterior improvements including landscaping at their new location at 310 N.

Tenth Street in cooperation with ForColumbia. Flower Folk LLC: $2,500 to convert an empty lot at 406 Sanford Ave. in the West Ash Neighborhood to a community space with a bench and gardens.

ForColumbia : $2,500 for neighborhood work in the North Central Neighborhood. Job Point : $2,500 for Opportunity in Bloom to build a fence around their dumpster and personalize the fence with a student-designed and painted mural. Local Motion : $2,498 to fund enhancements including a bike rack, signage, planters and benches at the City-owned lots on Garth and Sexton.

Meg Gibson Glass : $200 for Words with Neighbors to create glass mosaics with residents of the Benton-Stephens neighborhood and those staying at the Harbor House. Noble Court Neighborhood Watch Group : $2,025 for signage to recognize the history of Noble Court as the first Black neighborhood in Columbia.

Raquel Young: $1,000 to fund Care Cupboards and distribute free feminine products in cooperation with non-profits and businesses in the central city. Ridgeway Neighborhood Association : $2,500 for tree planting at lots owned by the City on Sexton near Garth. West Ash Community Compost: $500 for a neighborhood compost system.

The Love Your Block Mini Grant Competition is powered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins . The program brings city leaders and residents together to build stronger neighborhoods, one block at a time. Reach out to Volunteer Programs with questions, 573.

874. 7499 or [email protected] create new email . Youth and Teen Volunteers The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website.

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