OVER $225,000 IN 2022 LOVE YOUR BLOCK GRANTS FOR HARTFORD NEIGHBORHOOD
Published on May 19, 2022
HARTFORD, CONN (May 19, 2022) – Today, the City of Hartford and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving announced this year’s recipients of the Love Your Block grant, awarded to projects proposed by community members to beautify Hartford neighborhoods. This latest round of Love Your Block (LYB) grants committed more than $225,000, funding 21 projects in 15 different neighborhoods.
This year’s LYB grant offered a LYB Resident Grant and a LYB Community Grant. The LYB resident grant continue the work of the original LYB program, awarding grants to resident-led projects of $2,500 or less. Resident groups were also able to team up with non-profit organizations for the LYB Community Grant, which offered up to $25,000 in funding. In total, 9 resident grants and 12 community grants were awarded.
Grant applications were open from Monday, February 14th to Monday, March 7th, and ideas were reviewed by a review panel of Hartford residents. The City and the Hartford Foundation look forward to continuing to build on the successful Love Your Block program in the years ahead.
“We are thrilled to support more than twenty community-led beautification projects, from curbside gardens in the West End to traffic diverters in Southwest to cultural flags and murals on Greenwood and Grace Street,” said Mayor Bronin. “The Love Your Block program gives residents the resources to make the changes they want to see on their own block, in their own neighborhood — whether it’s the small resident projects, where a couple thousand dollars can make the difference, or whether it’s the larger community grants. I’m incredibly grateful to the Hartford Foundation and to all of our partners who make this program possible.”
“The Hartford Foundation is excited to continue our collaboration with the City and many others on the Love Your Block program,” said Hartford Foundation President and CEO Jay Williams. “These 21 projects arise from the ideas and action of residents, Neighborhood Revitalization Zones, faith groups, nonprofits and other stakeholders with deep roots, knowledge, and passion for improving the City’s neighborhoods. We know that neighborhood residents are the closest to the issues and the best to identify areas to target for beautification activities and the Love Your Block grant program is intended to put them in the driver’s seat and empower them to enhance their community.”
“Four years into the Love Your Block initiative, and I am still amazed by the energy, resiliency and creative spirits of our residents,” said Janice Castle, Director of the Office of Community Engagement. “The effects that these projects have had is incredible. Each LYB project brings even more civic engagement and pride every day, and I am deeply grateful to the Hartford Foundation for being partners with us every step of the way. I hope we see more and more projects deep within our neighborhoods, run by our residents, that help brighten as many corners as we can.”
The Love Your Block grant program is a component of Love Hartford, a broader initiative led by the City of Hartford, the Hartford Foundation, and other partners to help beautify Hartford neighborhoods and encourage community resiliency. The program brings together city leaders and citizens to revitalize neighborhoods one block at a time. It began when Hartford was one of ten cities chosen by Cities of Service to receive $25,000 in funding over two years (2019-2020) and two AmeriCorps VISTAs. Other activities supported through the initiative include Love Hartford week, the Neighborhood Ambassadors Program, and the annual Hartford Urban Gardeners Awards (HUGS) convened by KNOX, Inc.