New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The City of New Bedford, through its Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development (DPHCD) is proud to launch the 2016 CitiWorks Mini-Grant Program. This is the City of New Bedford’s sixth year in providing CitiWorks Mini-Grants to neighborhood-based organizations and other groups throughout the city. Successful projects provide physical improvements to neighborhoods which help make them healthier, safer, cleaner, and more attractive. Eligible projects include tree plantings, public art, community gardens, and enhancements to public spaces and are intended to help reinvigorate neighborhoods and develop community leadership.
Last year, CitiWorks provided grants to numerous projects throughout the city. These grants included the new mural at Phillips and Acushnet Avenue and the sculptures hung on light poles on Acushnet Avenue during the summer. CitiWorks also helped provide funding for the new mural at the Carney Academy Greenhouse, the planting of trees in the Griffin Street Cemetery, and improvements to multiple community gardens that support residents, the homeless, children, and people in rehabilitation.
An informational workshop for those interested in applying for these funds will be held Wednesday, March 2nd at 5:00pm in the 2nd Floor DPHCD conference room, 608 Pleasant Street, New Bedford.
Eligible applicants include neighborhood/community groups, youth, parent or senior groups, volunteer groups and clubs, neighborhood watch groups and school-based groups. Applicants must have a federal 501(c)(3) designation, or work with an organization who does.
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. Project sites must also be located in an eligible low to moderate income census block as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or the project must directly service low to moderate income residents.
For more information about CitiWorks, please contact Edward Bates at the DPHCD at 508-979-1500 or visit the DPHCD’s website at http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/community-development/.
