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<br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Action: Approval of Neighborhood Matching Grants for Fiscal Year 2013 <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: April 8, 2013 Agenda Item Number: 3G <br />Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Cindy Clarke <br />www.eugene-or.gov/neighborhoods Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5272 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br />The City Council is asked to approve the fiscal year 2013 Neighborhood Matching Grants proposals <br />recommended for funding by the department advisory committee. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />On June 12, 2000, the City Council adopted Resolution 4632, adopting guidelines for a <br />Neighborhood Matching Grants program. Grant-funded projects may include, but are not limited to: <br /> <br />Physical improvement projects that involve recreation or public safety facilities, natural <br /> <br />resource features, public art and spaces, or community gardens. Projects that improve <br />universal accessibility are also encouraged. <br /> <br />Public school partnership projects that benefit school children and the immediate <br /> <br />neighborhood. <br /> <br />Neighborhood-based events and celebrations. <br /> <br /> <br />Capacity-building initiatives that serve to create, diversify, or increase participation in a <br /> <br />neighborhood-based organization or promote an understanding of issues important to <br />neighborhood residents. <br /> <br />All neighborhood-based groups are eligible for funding, including neighborhood associations, <br />business associations, school site councils and ad hoc neighborhood groups formed to work on <br />specific projects. Community involvement and building relationships are key components of the <br />program and are encouraged by requiring that the project budget includes a match amount equal <br />to, or greater than, the grant request. <br /> <br />Since 2000, more than $515,000 in matching grants have funded 96 neighborhood improvement <br />projects community-wide. When the “match” portion of all projects is considered, the value of these <br />projects well exceeds $1 million. The benefits of the program go beyond the financial investment <br />and are an investment in building community. As one applicant eloquently stated: “When <br />community members work together in any capacity, they strengthen relationships. When people work <br />together on enhancing a public space, they not only enhance relationships, but build a community <br />legacy that benefits everyone.” <br /> <br /> S:\CMO\2013 Council Agendas\M130408\S1304083G.doc <br /> <br />