HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated July 14,2026ITEM #:15
DATE:07-14-26
DEPT:CMO
SUBJECT:EXPANDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANT'S SCOPE TO
ENCOURAGE MORE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
On February 24, 2026, City staff presented a staff report to Council on 2026
Neighborhood Connections Initiatives, which included four specific strategies to
implement this calendar year to strengthen community outreach and engagement. They
included:
1. Connecting with and Strengthening existing Neighborhood Associations - The Engagement
Coordinator has been in contact with existing neighborhood associations, asking for feedback
on how the City can support their efforts and sharing City resources.
2. Refreshing the Neighborhood Improvement Grant - This item is before you now, where an
additional component is being proposed. More below.
3. Road Trip through Ames: Stops to Build Connections - Two of the four road trip stops (block
party events have been conducted in May and June at Moore Memorial Park and Kate Mitchell
Elementary, and two more are planned for the remainder of the year in August and September
at Tahira and Labh Park, and Roosevelt Park).
4. Connect with Existing Groups and Events - Staff have been deliberate about asking to be
invited into spaces where people are already congregating to share information about City
resources, e.g., Sixty Forward Center, Juneteenth, Farmer's Market, Hy-Vee grocery stores,
etc.
The item before Council today came about through implementing strategies one and two listed
above.
REFRESH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Since the conception of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant in 2004, its purpose has been
to:
Promote a greater sense of community through resident participation in a neighborhood
project and
Strengthen a neighborhood's appearance with the addition of permanent physical
improvements
Currently, applicants must choose to work on a permanent physical improvement to public or
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private property that positively affects a significant number of residents. A maximum of $5,000
can be awarded per year per application, and the project should reflect a direct contribution of
$1.00 in cash or in-kind labor valued at $1.00 for every $1.00 of City funds received.
Grant participation has declined significantly over the past six years, with no
applications submitted since 2022. Given the inactivity, staff has been working to revive this
grant and expand marketing the opportunity. As such, in the past few months, staff has
reached out to past grant participants for feedback on the process and connected with
neighborhood associations to gather input on how to improve the grant. Additionally, staff has
researched other cities with similar programs.
CITIES WITH SIMILAR GRANTS:
North Liberty, IA, assists residents with funding to bring their neighbors together and
enhance the quality of life in North Liberty.
$400 is available per neighborhood for costs like food, non-alcoholic beverages,
entertainment, facility and equipment rentals, prizes, materials, and others.
Iowa City, IA , supports efforts that enhance quality of life, encourage civic engagement,
and bring people together. Their Program for Improving Neighborhoods (PIN) Grant
funds a wide range of events, programs, and initiatives like public safety trainings,
healthy cooking demonstrations, STEM activities, holiday celebrations, outdoor movie
night, block party, and many others.
Each neighborhood association may receive a maximum amount of $3,000.
Brooklyn Park, MN , offers funds to support and encourage their community members to
get to know their neighbors, build relationships, and work together to make their
neighborhood united, healthy, and thriving.
$250 is available per application for projects like: neighborhood picnic in the park,
cultural exchange potluck, litter pick up, kid or pet parade, ice cream social,
neighborhood talent show, and others.
Mankato, MN, offers funds to cover the costs of public community-building events like
block parties, movie nights, and social gatherings.
Grant recipients may receive up to $500 per event; no more than one grant will be
awarded per event.
NEW COMPONENT PROPOSAL:
With the feedback received and the research staff has conducted, staff is recommending
that a new component be added to the Neighborhood Improvement Grant program,
allowing residents to apply for up to $500 to support community connections.
A 1-for-1 in-kind match still would be required. This new element would financially support
events or activities aimed at strengthening social connections.
Examples of activities that could be supported included:
Programs that provide hands-on learning, training, and education that support the
community like CPR training, Mental Health First Aid training, healthy cooking
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demonstrations, STEM Activities, etc.
Unique projects that engage and bring neighbors together and make them better
connected, but do not require a physical improvement, like hosting an outdoor movie
night, a block party, an around-the-world festival, or outdoor games, etc.
Multimedia, art, and design activities such as enhancing assets that are sources of
neighborhood pride. This could be painting a mural or having an event to showcase art,
hosting a chalk art event or doing a public art installation.
The $500 maximum grant award could cover expenses such as:
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
Entertainment
Facility and equipment rentals
Insurance fees
Materials (paint, plants, etc.)
Marketing, promotion, and other advertising fees
Specialized labor (arborist, training facilitator, etc.)
MARKETING:
City staff has already begun re-focusing on promoting the existing neighborhood grant
program. Not only has communication gone out to the existing list of neighborhood
associations and is available on the website, but it has been promoted at the neighborhood
road trip stops.
If Council is supportive of adding this additional component, staff will revise the program and
re-promote the opportunity using multiple communication tools, including social media. Staff
also anticipates that making this funding available could inspire some residents to use the
block party trailer, equipping residents with more resources to build social connections.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the proposed expansion of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant to include the
opportunity to receive up to $500 for supporting social connections.
2. Do not approve the proposed expansion of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant and
provide further direction to staff.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City Council Goals include valuing communication and engagement with the public
and express a desire to keep Ames as a fun, vibrant, and healthy community that
attracts and retains people. The addition of expanding the Neighborhood Improvement
Grant to include up to $500 for supporting social connections amongst neighbors can
financially support Ames residents with resources to grow their connections and create
community. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council
approve Alternative #1 as listed above.
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