City grants give neighborhoods hand in sprucing up
Elgin neighborhood groups can vie for a slice of $50,000 starting this month to help create newsletters, spruce up local parks and create new entryway monuments.
The city's Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program, or NIGP, has provided a little more than $1 million toward 136 different projects throughout Elgin since 1996, said RuthAnne Hall who oversees the grants as the city's management analyst.
"This money has gone a long way in uniting residents in projects which benefit the entire community," said Hall. "The grant involves a neighborhood group match of volunteerism and funds, so many people from throughout the city share in the success of these projects."
Since funding this year is more limited than in the past, Hall is hoping the city's estimated 25 neighborhood groups are putting the final touches on their project proposals, which are due March 31.
"We hope the limited funding this year helps groups produce the best possible proposals," she said. "We may not do as many as we have done in years past."
The $50,000 in improvement money is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and is slated for two different grants, including a Small Sparks Fund for projects of $1,000 or less and a Large Project Fund for more costly initiatives up to $15,000.
For each one, neighborhood groups must pay for half the project in the form of volunteerism, in-kind donations or cash. The project must be a physical improvement to a neighborhood located on publicly owned property, such as signage, lighting or parkway tree replacement. Groups can also request money to stage neighborhood festivals and other community-building events.
Residents must wrap up their projects by the spring of 2009.
Enhancements the city funded last year include a butterfly garden on Douglas Avenue organized by the North East Neighborhood Association, new entryway monuments at Oakwood Hills on East Chicago Street and into the Eagle Heights subdivision on North McLean Boulevard, and a photo survey of houses in the Elgin Historic District compiled by the Gifford Park Association.
Other pending projects include a new neighborhood identity campaign hosted by the Summit Park Neighbors and Settlement and a neighborhood playground proposed by the Neighbors of South East Elgin.
The South West Area Neighbors also already pitched the idea of securing money to run a neighborhood marketing campaign designed to bring new home buyers into their older area north of the Route 20 Bypass and immediately west of Route 31 or State Street, said Hall. "I'd love for more groups to come forward with ideas related to lighting, entryway monuments, improvements to parkways and neighborhood planning," she said.
To receive an application, visit Elgin city hall at 150 Dexter Court, download the information from the city's Web site at www.cityofelgin.org or call Hall at (847) 931-6104.