Neighborhood Matching Grants

• Landscaping
• Trail improvements
• Murals
• Benches
• Community art
• Tree planting
• Decorative signal cabinets

• Community gardens
• Greenhouses/hoop houses
• Butterfly gardens
• Community cookbook
• Training & Education

• Festivals and Special Events project opportunities

• Logo/brand development
• Website development
• Brochures/marketing collateral
• Neighborhood directory
• T-shirts, pens, stickers, magnets

• Curb appeal improvements
• Street Adoption
• Community/vacant lot clean-up
• Stream clean-up
• Landscaping

• Community Asset mapping
• Membership drives
• Printing/mailing
• Yard signs (meeting date, yard, volunteer of the month, etc.)
• Strategic planning
• Non-profit registration

• Nuisance prevention
• Cultural programs
• Health and wellness
• Senior programs
• ESL programs
• Computer training/Digital Literacy 

• Infrastructure improvements
• Community centers
• Mailboxes
• Trash receptacles
• Dumpster enclosures
• Decorative fencing
• Curb Appeal improvements

• Streetlights
• Traffic Calming
• Security fences
• Security cameras
• Neighborhood Watch group
• Crime watch signs
• Speed limit signage

• Park enhancements
•  Playground/fitpark equipment
• Athletic fields
• Trails
• Bike racks
• Outdoor chess/checkers/games
• Stages/performance space

• Water, energy & waste reduction initiatives/ Recycling campaigns
• Community gardens
• Rider amenities in areas adjacent to transit stops
• Bike racks
• Pet/waste receptacles

• Sign toppers
• Neighborhood Identification
• Entrance monuments
• Wayfinding signage
• Garden signs
• Can do signs
• Event signage & banners
  
  

0:00

hi welcome to the city of Charlotte's

0:03

neighborhood matching grants online pre

0:05

application workshop we're glad you have

0:08

taken this important step to learn about

0:10

our program this three part presentation

0:13

will teach you about the neighborhood

0:15

matching grants program and will walk

0:17

you through our online grant application

0:19

process first we will discuss the

0:22

program and cover what neighborhoods may

0:24

apply for but before we go too far we

0:27

should introduce ourselves I'm Danielle

0:29

Fisher and I'm Philip Freeman you will

0:33

work with me a lot when completing your

0:35

grant application and you'll work with

0:37

me when seeking reimbursement for your

0:39

project now let's jump into the

0:41

neighborhood matching grants program

0:45

the city created the neighborhood

0:47

matching grants program more than 20

0:49

years ago the program awards up to

0:52

$25,000 of matching funds towards

0:55

projects that make our neighborhoods

0:56

better places to live work play and shop

0:59

we have three application deadlines each

1:02

year March 1st June 1st and September

1:05

1st we've supported more than 840

1:08

projects today leveraging more than 16

1:11

million dollars in funding and

1:12

volunteers be creative throughout the

1:15

three-part presentation we will feature

1:17

neighborhoods that completed the

1:19

matching grant project when deciding on

1:21

a project with our neighbors all we ask

1:23

is that you all work together and

1:25

strengthen your community the program

1:29

has broad goals that seek to engage

1:31

residents create partnerships and

1:34

improve the quality of Charlotte's

1:36

neighborhoods while the program offers

1:38

financial or technical support it's the

1:41

people who really bring these projects

1:43

to life it is important to have as many

1:45

of your neighborhood neighbors as

1:47

possible excited about completing the

1:49

project together next we will discuss

1:51

neighborhood eligibility and any piece

1:54

of this process seems overwhelming

1:56

remember we're here to help

1:58

after watching the webinars please feel

2:00

free to reach out to our staff with any

2:02

questions or concerns about the program

2:05

like most grant programs we have

2:08

eligibility requirements before applying

2:11

for a grant it's important to ensure

2:13

that your organization is eligible we

2:15

determine eligibility based on an

2:17

organization type and median property

2:19

value the program only Awards on to

2:23

eligible neighborhood based

2:24

organizations this typically includes

2:26

neighborhood associations they were at

2:29

coalition's and homeowners associations

2:31

if your neighborhood does not have an

2:34

established organization our Community

2:36

Engagement team is happy to assist you

2:38

in formula one we recognize that many

2:40

organizations such as business

2:42

associations churches and schools do not

2:45

be our eligibility requirements these

2:47

groups are encouraged to partner with

2:49

eligible organizations on projects that

2:52

help accomplish shared goal all

2:55

neighborhood based organizations must

2:58

25 housing units have a board and bylaws

3:02

and have been in existence for at least

3:04

six months for neighborhood associations

3:07

and HOAs the organization must be

3:09

managed by neighborhood residents hold

3:12

regular meetings and 75% of members must

3:15

live in the neighborhood this ensures

3:18

that the Association is not managed

3:20

entirely by an outside party with little

3:23

or no resident contribution for

3:25

neighborhood coalition's represented

3:28

neighborhood leaders must make at least

3:29

three force of the board and all

3:31

represented neighborhoods must be

3:33

involved with board meetings in addition

3:37

to an organizational requirement we also

3:39

have a geographical I mean where the

3:42

2000a birds within Charlotte needed

3:44

geographic requirement neighborhoods

3:47

with a mean assess property value equal

3:49

to or less than 180 one thousand seven

3:52

hundred and three dollars are eligible

3:54

the median assessed property value

3:56

dictates the neighborhood's

3:58

tier of eligibility which affects the

4:00

maximum grant award

4:02

additionally there are select project

4:04

that only tier one neighborhoods can

4:06

receive matching grant funding for in

4:08

the map above areas that are said purple

4:12

are eligible for the neighborhood

4:13

matching grants program however if your

4:16

neighborhood is not said of purple and

4:18

you think you may be eligible please

4:21

reach out to our staff so that we can

4:22

perform a more detailed analysis

4:26

neighborhood matching grant projects are

4:28

meant to be fun and we encourage your

4:30

neighborhood to be creative we will

4:33

provide examples of completed projects

4:35

later or remember that you are free to

4:37

apply for projects that we have not yet

4:39

funded we have some broad requirements

4:42

including their projects must provide a

4:43

public benefit to everyone in the

4:45

neighborhood this means that it should

4:48

be something that all of the

4:49

neighborhood residents can be proud of

4:51

and benefit from not just the members of

4:54

the board or residents of one particular

4:56

street

4:57

additionally the project should involve

4:59

project activities and implementations

5:02

that not just expenditures it should

5:04

engage residents and project planning

5:06

and

5:07

fermentation through the neighborhood

5:09

matching grants program we want to

5:11

encourage neighbors to build

5:12

relationships with one another this

5:14

can't happen if people are just buying a

5:17

bunch of stuff now we will present some

5:22

projects that other neighborhoods have

5:24

pursued and completed in recent years

5:26

remember that all ideas are welcome

5:28

these are merely suggestions of what you

5:31

might do matching grants have supported

5:34

organizational development programming

5:37

recreation and property enhancement

5:39

projects please note that turbo fuel

5:42

improvements and maintenance projects

5:44

are only permitted in Tier one

5:46

neighborhoods other neighborhoods have

5:49

successfully completed projects around

5:51

resource conservation community garden

5:54

neighborhood cleanup signage marketing

5:57

and branding and public safety if you

6:00

see an idea that interests your

6:02

neighborhood please reach out to our

6:03

staff to learn more in recent years many

6:07

neighborhoods have also used grants for

6:10

art and beautification projects and to

6:12

hold festivals and special events what

6:15

will your neighborhood think of the sky

6:18

is the limit as long as you have to

6:19

support up your neighbors and have an

6:21

idea to strengthen your community while

6:25

there are hundreds of eligible projects

6:27

there are some things that are not

6:28

eligible for funding this includes food

6:31

and beverages entertainment operating

6:34

expenses salaries annual plants entrance

6:37

fees raffles and pine needles or mulch

6:41

this does not mean however that these

6:43

items cannot be a part of your project

6:45

is applicants pay for these items they

6:47

will be considered part of their match

6:49

it's worth mentioning that our program

6:52

cannot fund the same project twice nor

6:54

can we fund an existing project please

6:57

note that grant funded items are the for

7:00

the sole use of the organization not

7:02

individual or personal use lastly grant

7:05

funds can only cover purchases made

7:07

after contract signing we will discuss

7:10

this in greater detail in the following

7:12

presentations

7:14

before wrapping up the first part of our

7:17

presentation we will cover some

7:19

frequently asked questions first how do

7:22

I determine if my neighborhood is

7:23

eligible to apply there are two steps

7:26

first determine if your neighborhood is

7:29

an eligible organization type these

7:31

definitions are found on page 11 of our

7:34

program guidelines which are available

7:36

on our website next determine if your

7:39

neighborhood meets the median tax value

7:41

threshold of 181 703 dollars or less

7:46

there is a math online where you can

7:49

type in your address to learn whether

7:50

your neighborhood is eligible okay

7:53

my neighborhood is eligible how much

7:55

money can we were play great question

7:58

tier one neighborhoods can apply for up

8:00

to $25,000 per application and tier two

8:04

neighborhoods can apply for up to ten

8:05

thousand dollars for application

8:07

remember your neighborhood can apply for

8:10

a new grant once you have completed your

8:12

previous grant got it so what types of

8:16

projects can be funded all sorts of

8:18

projects we fund projects that improve a

8:21

community's quality of life that being

8:24

said neighborhoods can select which

8:26

project is best for them remember to

8:29

include your neighbors when selecting a

8:30

project and feel free to contact us if

8:32

you would like to discuss a project idea

8:37

can we use neighborhood matching grants

8:39

to fund a community festival or special

8:41

event you sure can

8:43

we can help fund festivals and special

8:45

events for up to two years you may apply

8:47

for up to five thousand and funding for

8:50

the first year of the event and up to

8:52

three thousand in the second year should

8:56

we apply for funding to replace our

8:58

Finch or interim son yes tier one

9:01

neighborhoods can apply for funding to

9:03

improve the existing properties or

9:05

features

9:05

examples include replacing mailboxes

9:08

updating the fence repairing a dumpster

9:11

enclosure or resurfacing a parking lot

9:15

can we use a neighborhood matching grant

9:17

to improve neighborhood curb appeal yes

9:20

tier one neighborhoods can apply for

9:22

funding to improve neighborhood curb

9:24

appeal note that the matching HAMP

9:26

program will help firm materials but we

9:29

will not pay for the contractors or

9:31

applicable labor

9:35

that concludes the first part of our

9:37

presentation please view portion 2 to

9:40

learn about our grant application

9:41

process

0:00

hi and welcome to the second of three

0:02

presentations that comprise the

0:04

neighborhood matching grant pre

0:06

application workshop the first

0:08

presentation explained the program and

0:10

what neighborhoods may apply for in this

0:13

section we will explain how to build

0:15

your project and how to complete the

0:17

online application the matching

0:20

component is central to our program

0:22

neighborhoods must match the amount

0:25

requested from the city dollar for

0:27

dollar match types include cash

0:30

contributions in-kind donations and

0:32

volunteer hours volunteer hours which

0:35

are valued at twenty three dollars and

0:37

seven cents per hour must account for at

0:40

least 50% of the match volunteer hours

0:43

can be for any activities during the

0:45

life of the grant that helps build

0:46

community in kind donations might

0:49

include using a neighbor's truck a

0:51

resident donating professional services

0:54

or a local store providing a discount

0:56

donations can be calculated at market

0:59

rate and included in your project

1:02

meeting the match should not prevent any

1:04

neighborhood from participating in our

1:06

program remember the neighborhoods can

1:08

meet to match entirely through volunteer

1:10

hours if they so desire if you are

1:13

partnering with an outside group on your

1:15

project such as a church or a civic club

1:18

remember that at least 25% of the total

1:21

match must come from the applying

1:23

neighborhood organization get creative

1:26

with your volunteer hours host a potluck

1:28

hold a clean-up day and remember to

1:31

celebrate progress towards project goals

1:36

each matching grant project has one key

1:39

contact person from the neighborhood

1:41

that person however should not complete

1:44

the entire project by him or herself we

1:47

encourage you to form a project team

1:48

when applying for and completing a

1:50

matching grant project the roles

1:52

presented here are not required but

1:55

might help your neighborhood delegate

1:56

tasks feel free to pick and choose

1:59

pieces that work for your community one

2:02

possible role is Communications Manager

2:04

who keeps all neighbors and forms of

2:06

projects progress volunteer dates and

2:09

key information another suggestion is a

2:12

volunteer coordinator

2:13

rallies the troops to volunteer and

2:16

acknowledges the hard work after

2:17

volunteer days a third possible role as

2:20

event planner those schedules meetings

2:23

and events in order to keep the project

2:25

on track a project manager can be

2:28

helpful for working with vendors and

2:29

city staff and keeping the neighborhood

2:32

president of today the board's treasurer

2:34

might also serve the role of treasurer

2:37

for the project to make sure receipts

2:39

and invoices are submitted on time and

2:42

that the neighborhood speaks to the

2:43

project budget lastly a fundraising

2:46

coordinator can help raise support both

2:48

from neighbors and external sponsors

2:51

think of ways to engage outside partners

2:54

and make sure to thank everyone that

2:55

supports your efforts

2:59

now we will discuss the online

3:01

application which could be accessed by

3:03

visiting our website at

3:09

www.opm.gov/tribalprograms the budget

3:43

worksheet is a Microsoft Excel

3:44

spreadsheet

3:45

the first tab asks you to list project

3:48

cost both those for which you are

3:50

requesting funding and those which are

3:53

neighborhood will cover it also asks for

3:55

any in-kind contributions that your

3:57

neighborhood anticipates in-kind

4:00

contributions can come from resident

4:02

local businesses community partners or

4:04

other sources based on the figures you

4:07

input on the first tab the second tab

4:10

will show the minimum number of

4:12

volunteer hours your neighborhood must

4:14

commit to on this tab you should list

4:17

volunteer activities and project hours

4:20

once these numbers are interred the

4:22

first tab will automatically update to

4:24

reflect the value of your volunteer

4:26

match if your minimum volunteer

4:29

commitment is met the text at the bottom

4:31

of tab 1 will turn green if you need

4:34

more volunteer hours however this text

4:36

will be read you will also be asked to

4:40

submit volunteer our commitments with

4:43

your application the sheet on the left

4:45

at the volunteer pledge sheet we call

4:47

this the I will sheet the sheet on the

4:50

right is the volunteer sign-in sheet

4:52

which we think of as the ideas sheet

4:54

neighbors and other volunteers should

4:56

commit hours to show support for the

4:58

project you might secure all of your

5:00

hours at one specific event but more

5:03

than likely you will have several

5:04

volunteer events related to the project

5:06

please submit a volunteer pledge sheet

5:08

for each event

5:10

it's okay to collect hogs your

5:12

commitments via email Facebook sign up

5:15

genius or another online platform if you

5:19

do so please submit documentation along

5:22

with your application we understand that

5:24

neighborhoods are fluid and individuals

5:27

move in and out during projects everyone

5:30

who pledges to volunteer might not

5:32

remain in the neighborhood for the life

5:34

of the project if this happens just

5:36

recruit someone else to help fulfill

5:38

those volunteer hours you will also be

5:42

asked to document any cash or in-kind

5:45

contributions that individuals or

5:47

organizations pledge towards toward the

5:50

project you are free to use the

5:52

contribution template provided but not

5:54

have to we created this template for

0:00

hi welcome to the third and final

0:02

recording at our pre-application

0:04

workshop this portion will outline what

0:07

to expect after submitting your online

0:09

grant application at this point you're

0:13

probably curious about how applications

0:15

are reviewed and scored neighborhood

0:17

matching grant applications are reviewed

0:19

in a two phase process that takes

0:21

roughly 60 days from the application

0:23

submission date once you've submitted

0:25

your application you will be stopped

0:27

assigned a staff liaison who will work

0:30

with you to finalize your application

0:31

your staff liaison will review your

0:34

application and reach out to clarify any

0:36

outstanding question after this test

0:39

review our board members will review the

0:41

application and pose any questions this

0:44

provides you the chance to respond to

0:46

application questions before the final

0:49

review finally the review board will

0:52

meet to review and vote on grant

0:54

applications one Board considers

0:56

requests of $10,000 or less and a second

1:00

Board considers requests from 10,000 and

1:02

one dollar to $25,000 applicants are

1:06

encouraged to attend the board meeting

1:08

in order to advocate on behalf of their

1:10

project this is your chance to explain

1:13

why the project will benefit your

1:14

community application by review based on

1:19

the following criteria you should keep

1:22

the scoring criteria in mind as you are

1:24

preparing your application for an

1:26

application to be approved it must for

1:28

an average of 60 out of the 100 points

1:32

the largest scoring criteria is project

1:35

design this demonstrates that you and

1:37

your neighbors are ready to undertake

1:39

the project it also shows that you have

1:42

thought through the details and that you

1:44

all can realistically complete the

1:45

project within one year these are some

1:49

pointers to ensure that your application

1:51

is as thorough as possible we encourage

1:54

you to verify neighborhood and project

1:56

eligibility with city staff before

1:58

beginning an application this also

2:01

allows us to brainstorm potential

2:02

resources perhaps there is something in

2:05

your application that we cannot earn but

2:07

we know of a group that can fund it this

2:09

helps us connect with you with resources

2:11

early if you

2:13

want you to undertake more than one

2:15

project you can apply in one application

2:17

as long as you provide a reasonable plan

2:20

to complete multiple projects within the

2:23

one-year time frame we're gathering

2:26

quotes

2:26

remember to include sales tax delivery

2:28

fees and other added expenses it's

2:31

important to know exactly how much it

2:33

will cost to get goods and/or services

2:34

to your project site and it's necessary

2:37

installed we ask that you collect at

2:40

least two quotes for all purchases over

2:42

$1,000 your neighborhood may select

2:45

which vendor you go with but this helps

2:47

you ensure that you are getting a fair

2:48

quote remember to get written permission

2:51

from property owners with applicable and

2:54

to submit all documentation including

2:57

matched commitment contribution letters

2:59

and volunteer pledge sheets as mentioned

3:03

earlier the neighborhood matching grants

3:05

program uses an online application

3:07

system remember that you do not have to

3:10

finish your application all in one

3:11

sitting but you can save your

3:13

application as you go and come back and

3:15

complete it at any time grant activities

3:18

can only start after contract signing

3:20

which takes place about 12 weeks after

3:23

the application deadline volunteer hours

3:25

perform before contract signings cannot

3:28

be counted toward the match and

3:30

purchases made before contract signing

3:32

are not eligible for nmg funding give

3:36

yourself plenty of time to think through

3:38

the details and to create a project

3:40

timeline before submitting an

3:42

application think about where the

3:44

project will take place how much of it

3:46

neighbors could complete versus hiring

3:49

others and how you will take care of

3:51

future costs associated with the project

3:53

projects may begin once a contract is

3:56

signed and they must be completed within

3:58

one year lastly remember you don't have

4:02

to be an expert in anything to complete

4:04

an application we are here to help just

4:06

pick up the phone and give us a call

4:09

once you sign your contract you can

4:12

officially begin your project you will

4:14

be asked to attend a contract signing

4:16

wherein we will all explain the details

4:18

of your contract payment the program

4:21

does not award funds at the beginning of

4:22

the project but reimburses neighborhoods

4:25

after they have purchased supplies

4:27

once all necessary receipts and

4:30

paperwork are submitted for

4:31

reimbursement the city will mail a check

4:34

to the grantee within 30 days

4:36

neighborhoods must complete a w-9 and

4:39

vendor registration form before

4:41

requesting reimbursement it helps if

4:44

neighborhood organizations have a bank

4:45

account but we can work around this if

4:48

necessary lastly neighborhood matching

4:52

grants awards are non-taxable

4:54

if you need more information please

4:56

consult a qualified tax professional you

5:01

will be asked to complete an online

5:02

report every other month to inform our

5:05

staff of your projects progress this is

5:07

also a chance for you to update your

5:09

staff liaison on purchases activities

5:12

and volunteer hours that have taken

5:13

place within recent weeks remember that

5:16

your staff liaison will be available to

5:18

help you throughout the entire lifecycle

5:19