The City of St. Augustine is giving away grants to help people make their neighborhoods better.
St. Augustine spokesman Paul Williamson said the neighborhood grants for projects have been offered, on and off, for about a decade. The total giveaway amount is $15,000, divided into multiple smaller grants.
“Small grants, [up to] $2,500, that can help a neighborhood do some kind of enhancement for itself,” Williamson said.
There are three categories for eligible projects:
- Improvements: being a tangible physical asset, either new or existing, located on public space.
- Communication: such as print material, e-newsletter, web design/maintenance to benefit the neighborhood.
- Education: such as workshops, classes, speakers for the benefit of the neighborhood.
Williamson said in recent years a neighborhood, named Flagler Model Land, used the grant to develop a brochure for a neighborhood walking tour
The brochure “identified some of the most historic homes and told a little something about it,” he said.
Williamson has also seen neighborhoods install historical markers, get new playground equipment, install pet waste stations; and many are using the grant to create e-newsletters or hyperlocal websites.
“Those tools have become very popular since the hurricane. Since Matthew, and after Irma, neighborhoods are seeing the need to be able to communicate with each other,” Williamson said.
Applicants for the grants may be either:
- A neighborhood association member of the St. Augustine Neighborhood Council verified by letter.
- The Council itself for projects that benefit the entire association membership of the Council;
- An organization representing a group of residents of a particular neighborhood;
- A group of residents of a particular neighborhood.
The money is available as a reimbursement only. City staff will review applications and make recommendations to the city manager for final approval. The deadline to apply is Feb. 20.
Once approved, appropriate staff will meet with each grant recipient to review the work plan, timeline, policies and procedures in keeping with city rules and regulations after which work on the project may commence.
Photo used under Creative Commons.
Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at @lindskilbride.
