The Department of Neighborhoods is hosting workshops to inform and educate community groups on developing Neighborhood Matching Fund project proposals.

Topics covered will include the new 2010 Neighborhood Matching Fund guidelines and applications, successful outreach strategies, and coordinating with other city departments and government agencies.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund provides funding to neighborhood groups for community projects.

Two of the workshops will be held in the Ballard area.

The first is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the Ballard Public Library, located at 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.

The second meeting will focus on large projects, those ranging from $15,000 to $100,000, and will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, located at 6532 Phinney Ave. N.

The fund currently allocates $3.2 million per year.