Richland County, South Carolina

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One-Call Response Center 24 Hours (803) 929-6000

Neighborhood Matching Grants Program

Neighborhood Matching Grant Information Sessions and Workshops

Interested applicants are recommended to attend the Virtual Zoom Neighborhood Matching Grant Workshop to help prepare neighborhoods for the upcoming grant cycle. A copy of the Workshop PowerPoint will be available for those that did not attend. This year, Grant Trainings will be held via 1-on-1 phone calls with staff upon request. Phone call Grant Trainings are for additional assistance and are not required. Please see below for dates and times:

Workshop – December 10th, 2020 from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (via Zoom)

The Workshop PowerPoint and Presentation can be found here:

Matching Grant Workshop Powerpoint

Matching Grant Workshop Presentation (Audio)

Matching Grant Workshop Presentation (Video)

Tuesday Phone Training Sessions (open availability) – January 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th 2021 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Thursday Phone Training Sessions (open availability) – January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th 2021 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Workshop registration and appointments can be made by contacting staff through email or phone at the information listed at the bottom of this page.

Goal

To make neighborhoods better places to live, work, play and shop by providing grants for neighborhood-based organizations to facilitate neighborhood improvement projects.

Program Overview

The Neighborhood Improvement Program awards grants for neighborhood-based organizations to implement projects that will improve the growth and sustainability of their neighborhoods. These projects may physically improve neighborhoods or help neighborhood organizations become stronger. Neighborhood organizations within Richland County are encouraged to submit applications for grant funding that focus on one of the three areas of emphasis — organizational development, educational/recreational initiatives, and public safety efforts.

The maximum amount of funding to be awarded by the Neighborhood Improvement Program will be $1,500.00 per neighborhood organization. All grants are approved by County Council. Neighborhoods must provide a dollar-for-dollar match for the amount of funding requested. The match may be in the form of volunteer hours, cash, or in-kind donations or services.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects must provide a public benefit to the neighborhood and its residents, involve neighborhood people directly in all phases, and be achievable by June 1st the following award year. Projects should fit into one of the following categories:

ORGANIZATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Project Examples:

Membership recruitment drives
Program flyers
Newsletters
Neighborhood entrance sign
Community festivals

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Project Examples:

After school tutoring
Good Neighbor Day

RECREATIONAL INITIATIVES

Project Examples:

Student recognition programs
Community garden
Sports camp

PUBLIC SAFETY

Project Examples:

National Night Out
Crime watch signs
Crime prevention and fire safety programs
Street light installation

Ineligible Projects

Examples of ineligible projects include, but are not limited to:

Flower/tree plantings in common areas
Operating budget expenses
Purchasing computers or software materials
Printing on personal computers
Home repairs for personal property
Gift cards/certificates

Eligible Applicants

Any neighborhood-based organization within Richland County including but not limited to:

Neighborhood Organizations/Associations
Community Organizations/Associations
Homeowners' Associations,
Property owners' Associations

Ineligible Applicants

Non-Neighborhood-based organizations including but not limited to:

Individuals
single businesses
county-wide organizations
social groups
religious organizations
universities

Application Submission Period (December 1, 2020 - February 5, 2021)

The application submittal period opens on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 8:30 am. All applications must be received by NIP no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 5, 2021.

Late submissions will not be accepted by NIP staff.