2022 Mini-Grant Applications are now open for the Chihuahuita, Segundo Barrio, and Chamizal neighborhoods!
Supported by the City of El Paso and Cities of Service, the Love Your Block program provides mini-grants to residents, community members, and organizations to support neighborhood revitalization through volunteerism and small-scale projects, one block at a time. The neighborhoods of focus for Year 1 of the Love Your Block program include Chihuahuita, Segundo Barrio, and Chamizal. The goal is for each project selected to improve residents’ quality of life, promote a high level of community engagement, and address/support a neighborhood concern or initiative.
Love Your Block El Paso
Contact Information:
Christian Lopez
Civic Empowerment Coordinator
[email protected]
(915) 212-1680
Julia Del Campo
Neighborhood Specialist
[email protected]
(915) 212-1692
Andrea Ornelas-Bejarano
Love Your Block Fellow
[email protected]
(915) 212-1651
Program Details
How it Works:
Applications are due no later than August 26th, 2022.
- The Love Your Block program provides mini-grants in the amount of $250 - $2,000 for projects that take place within the neighborhoods of focus: Chihuahuita, Segundo Barrio, Chamizal.
- All projects are subject to program review and submitting an application does not guarantee application approval or funding.
Project Examples:
- Neighborhood Clean-Ups
- Vacant Lot Activation
- Historic Preservation Project
- Exterior Home Repairs
- Community Art/Mural Installation
- Miniature Reading Library
We encourage applicants to be creative in thinking of ways to beautify their neighborhood!
Obligations of Mini-Grant Recipients:
- A minimum of 5 volunteers from the neighborhoods of focus are required for each project to demonstrate community engagement; the more volunteers the better!
- Consent for the Love Your Block team to document and photograph the project, before and after.
- Attend a project and budget meeting after application approval to finalize plans and logistics before implementation.
Evaluation Criteria:
The Love Your Block (LYB) team will consider the strength of the application based on the following criteria.
- Community Impact & Sustainability Plan: This is a significant factor in the competitiveness of an application. Love Your Block grants are designed to do more than improve homes or clean up trash. The LYB team is seeking to partner with residents to revitalize and strengthen El Paso neighborhoods over several years. A strong grant application will indicate future plans for how neighbors will improve their block both physically and socially. It is a key component of the sustainability plan to include how the property owner will be involved and how the project will benefit the community.
- Volunteer-Led: Groups that demonstrate specifically how they will work together and assist each other in their block improvements are more competitive. It is encouraged to recruit neighborhood volunteers to help assist with the improvements.
- Clustered Properties: Properties that are physically close together will create more of an impact than properties that are scattered. Applications that show the property improvements are occurring in a concentrated area are more likely to be funded than applications where houses are separated by great distances.
- Public Space/Vacant Land Activation: Applications that propose improvements on public spaces or pieces of land that are neglected to turn them into something great are strongly encouraged.
Funds May Not Be Used For:
Administration of mini-grant to another person or organization, political events, alcoholic beverages, entertainment, rent or utilities, speaker fees, computer equipment, scholarships or other direct support to individuals or families, improvement projects that primarily serve churches and/or other religious organizations and not the overall community and items or services for personal use.
Questions:
For any questions, assistance in filling out your grant application, or additional information regarding Love Your Block, please email [email protected] or call (915) 212-1651.