Call for submission of Mini-Grant proposals

(Updated)The Hillsborough County Neighborhood Mini-Grant Application 2010
is coming due in July. These are $1500 grants. Each Neighborhood Association can fill out one application per calendar year. So for that reason, the OSHNA Board will have to select one project. Those wishing to apply for the grant need to submit to the Board in writing, the name of the project and a short description. The easiest is to just answer the Evaluation Criteria. The Office of Neighborhood Relations awards this grant to the Association and the Association, in turn, distributes the awarded grant.

Grants must be turned in by June 9th. The selection will be made at the June executive board meeting.

For further information, please see the County's website: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr/. Look at the bottom at Upcoming Events and you will find the link to the Mini-Grant Application, or follow this link to go directly to the PDF application: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr/resources/publications/2010MiniGra.... The deadline is Friday, July 24th. There are several orientations at area libraries through the month of May listed in the document which explain how to fill out the application.

AVAILABLE FUNDING
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) announces the availability of Neighborhood Mini-Grant funds for fiscal year 2010, beginning October 1, 2009. In addition to BOCC funding, funding from the Children's Board of Hillsborough County and the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation within the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has also been pledged.

PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of this grant program is to strengthen neighborhood associations and the communities which they serve. Applications should demonstrate community support in both the application and implementation phases of proposed projects/programs.

ENTITIES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
Neighborhood, Community, Civic, and Homeowner Associations, Special Taxing Districts, Coalitions of Neighborhood Associations and Neighborhood Watch groups recognized by local law enforcement are eligible to apply for funding. Forprofit service providers and local government entitles are not eligible to apply for funding. Homeowner Associations still controlled by the developer cannot apply for grant money intended for physical improvements of the association area.

PROJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION
Neighborhood leaders are urged to be creative when brainstorming projects and types of community involvement. The review committee will look favorably upon applications that have matching funds or involve other forms of leveraged community support. The following represent the types of projects that will be favorably considered for funding:

• Attendance at the Florida Neighborhood Conference or Neighborhoods USA Conference.
• Neighborhood Identity (e.g., brochures, signs, festivals, and education of neighborhood history)
• Neighborhood Leadership Training and Development.
• Start-up Funds for Specific Neighborhood Projects (e.g., newsletters, internet sites).
• Safety (e.g., communication systems with law enforcement).
• Publicity of Special Events (e.g., community cleanups and festivals).
• Beautification (only xeriscaping and extremely drought tolerant planting will be considered).
• Children's Programs (e.g., term neighborhood-operated programs which benefit children).
• Sports and Recreation (e.g., establishment of neighborhood-based sports events and "community building" activities).

The same (or similar) project by an association will not be considered more than once. For example, if money was awarded for a block party in the past, a block party or another type of community celebration will not be eligible again for funding.

PROJECTS/ITEMS NOT QUALIFIED
The following is a list of the type of projects that would NOT be recommended for funding:

• Projects which will not be completed and funds not expended by August 31, 2010.
• Food or drinks will not be funded.
• Infrastructure projects (e.g., building construction, repairs or enhancements to buildings or other structures (walls), sidewalks, street lighting, road improvements or anything eligible for funding under the County capital improvement program).
• Projects which are typically funded under other sources such as a city or county department's operating budget, Community Development Block Grant, Social Service RFA, Weed & Seed or any Children's Board funding processes.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
The Neighborhood Mini-Grant Evaluation Committee uses the following criteria to evaluate each mini-grant application. Each question is assigned a point value. Maximum number of points an application can receive is 100 points. The grant applications are then ranked accordingly.

• Points automatically awarded if the project is eligible for funding. (6 points)
•   Points automatically awarded if the applicant is applying for the first time. (10 points)
•   Points awarded if the applicant was funded in previous cycles and Scope of Work was completed as negotiated. (7 points)
•   Points awarded if the applicant was funded in previous cycles and the final Performance Report was submitted. (3 points)
•   Does the application clearly describe the project and its goals? (8 points)
•   Does the application communicate a community need? (8 points)
•   Does this project address the community need? (8 points)
•   Does this project have the potential to strengthen the community? (10 points)
•   Does this project have the potential to strengthen the applying association? (10 points)
•   Does the application show evidence of community consensus for the project? (10 points)
•   Does the application show evidence of community involvement in the implementation of the project? (10 points)
•   Are the budget revenues and expenses clear and justifiable? (5 points)
•   Is this the most appropriate source of funding? (5 points)
•   Does the applicant show sufficient evidence of leveraging of community resources (cash or in-kind)? (10 points)