New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Wednesday, March 19 at 5:00pm, the City of New Bedford, through the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), will launch the CitiWorks Mini-Grant Program 2014. The program will be further described in an informational workshop at the Office of Housing and Community Development, 608 Pleasant Street, 2nd Floor conference room at 5:00pm.
Started in 2011, this very successful program has assisted dozens of neighborhood-based organizations with mini-grants that have contributed to making New Bedford a healthier, greener, and more beautiful city. The program provides seed grants of up to $2,000 to neighborhood groups, non-profits, schools and other local and community organizations for projects such as tree plantings, community gardens, public spaces, neighborhood signs, and other physical beautification projects.
Projects can be sited either on private land–as long as the site is visible and accessible to all neighborhood residents–or on memorial squares, portions of city parks, or other public lands, pending city approval. Existing community gardens and pocket parks are also eligible.
The goals of the program are to assist in bringing members of our neighborhoods together to improve the physical appearance of our city and promote cleaner, more beautiful neighborhoods. Encouraging residents to collaborate with other community groups and organizations is also a goal which helps develop local leadership while also enhancing partnerships throughout the city.
Eligible applicants include neighborhood / community groups; youth, parent or senior groups; volunteer groups and clubs; neighborhood watch groups; and schools/school-based groups. Applicants must have a federal 501©(3) designation, or work with an organization who does.
For more information about CitiWorks, please call the Office of Housing and Community Development at 508-979-1500 or visit the City’s website at www.newbedford-ma.gov/cd/welcome.html.
