Neighborhood Matching Fund supports another 23 community groups

Mayor Ed Murray announced an investment of $417,227 in matching funds to support 23 neighborhood-initiated projects across the city. The awards are from the Neighborhood Matching Fund for such projects as community celebrations to multi-media training for youth.

“For 28 years the Neighborhood Marching Fund has helped to support the efforts of community members to make improvements to their communities and neighborhoods,” said Murray. “These projects have included playground improvements, creation of community sidewalks, and construction of parklets for all to enjoy. These efforts are successful because they are driven by community members building connections and engaging with each other to make their projects happen.”

The awards are part of the Small and Simple Projects Fund, one of three funds offered by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. It provides cash awards of up to $25,000 in matching funds to community organizations committed to fostering and building a better community. The 2016 June awards range from $5,100 to $25,000, and the organizations pledge to match the City of Seattle’s $417,227 investment with $550,072 of locally raised money, donated materials, and volunteer labor.

In addition to the Small and Simple Projects Fund, the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) has two other programs: the Large Projects Fund which provides matching funds of up to $100,000, and the Small Sparks Fund which provides funds of up to $1,000. Over its 28-year history, more than 5,000 projects have been funded with the help of NMF, and its investment in neighborhoods can be seen across the city. For more information about all of the funds visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.

The Small and Simple Projects Fund has one more opportunity to apply this September. To learn more visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/smallandsimple.htm.

2016 Small and Simple Projects Fund June Awards

Citywide

$24,990 to Blanket Fort Films to empower filmmakers from underrepresented communities by providing free access to video equipment and training. (Community match: $35,400)

$5,100 to Sisters of South Seattle for an event to get K-12 students excited about going back to school with food, games, school supplies, along with information on time management and after-school activities. (Community match: $5,100)

$13,906 to Seattle Architecture Foundation for a series of events that share the impact of community coalitions shaping Seattle through community-based design projects. Attendees will exchange strategies and resources for implementing projects to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. (Community match: $8,244)

District 1

$25,000 to Friends of Highland Park Elementary School to create construction drawings based on its conceptual site plan, in addition to continuing outreach efforts to ensure spaces created are inviting to the many cultures in its community. (Community match: $13,600)

$5,000 to Circulo de Mamas Seattle for a project to educate and reach out to the Latino community through civic engagement activities. (Community match: $31,000)

$4,000 to Fauntleroy Watershed Council & Fauntleroy Community Association for landscape design concept drawings for a small green space/pocket park to present to potential donors. (Community match: $2,250)

$13,345 to Camp Long Mountain Fest Steering Committee to organize Mountain Fest 2016 on Sept. 10, a day of free access to activities including rock climbing and other opportunities for environmental learning. (Community match: $13,555)

District 2

$17,000 to Breast Cancer Awareness Steering Committee for a free family-friendly event on Oct. 22-23 to raise awareness of the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer. (Community match: $21,850)

$25,000 to Beacon Hill International School Playground Steering Committee for a community-led project to replace the outdated and unsafe playground structure that was recently removed from the play area. (Community match: $85,825)

$17,575 to Mount Baker Business District Association to produce a business district festival with tactical urbanism installations to promote the Mount Baker Hub business district and develop a sense of community and place around the Mount Baker Light Rail Station. (Community match: $20,040)

$25,000 to Alleycat Acres to transform an SDOT Right of Way into a community space providing neighbors a safe, clean environment to walk, gather, and grow food. The Wetmore Community Garden will increase food security through education and volunteerism, encouraging community members to grow their own food. (Community match: $32,585)

$16,300 to Friends of Rainier Beach Streatery at Jude’s to construct a streatery with a bicycle and edible garden theme to serve as a point of pride and identification for the neighborhood and serve as a hub for youth-focused community events. (Community match: $16,325)

$25,000 to Project Orca Playground to install play equipment, native plantings, interpretive signage and other improvements to the outdoor play area and rain garden at the Orca K-8 public school. (Community match: $26,000)

$12,000 to Saturday Studio to design and build a parklet for the Hillman City Collaboratory which will be a community space that tells and helps form the ongoing story of Hillman City. (Community match: $12,000)

District 3

$24,413 to Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park Committee to produce a day-long celebration on August 27 to showcase the grand opening of Jim Hendrix Park to include speakers, a concert, food trucks and activities for children. (Community match: $28,733)

$24,000 for Tasveer to organize the 3rd South Asian International Documentary Festival next February 11-12. It will bring people together to engage with the cultural, artistic and activist work of the South Asian region and people. (Community match: $37,700)

$20,000 to Multimedia Resources Training Institute to create a one-hour documentary, 30 photo portraits, and other multimedia projects produced by youth interns and focused on the Central Area. (Community match: $12,640)

$25,000 to Madrona School PTSA for design and construction documents for an engaging play structure that will allow the grounds to be open to the public outside of school hours. The redesign will improve transitions and redo the landscaping. (Community match: $17,800)

$25,000 to Volunteer Park Trust to create preliminary schematic design for a new performance stage as part of the Volunteer Park Amphitheater Project. (Community match: $15,325)

District 4

$23,190 to Eastlake P-Patch Community Garden to replace the deteriorating garden infrastructure and to widen paths. Work will be done by community volunteers under the guidance of professional construction management volunteers. Improvements will be vetted via meetings, email, phone, and posting of information and surveys. (Community match: $23,970)

District 5

$15,408 to Team of N. 137th Street Residents to identify possible solutions to increase pedestrian safety and traffic calming on N. 137th Street between Greenwood and Linden Avenues. The project will build and strengthen community bonds by creating opportunities to meet neighbors and work together for a common goal. (Community match: $7,725)

District 7

$6,000 to Interbay P-Patch Community Gardeners to work with neighbors to replace the roofing on the tool and food bank structures. These enhancements will give the garden an aesthetically consistent and secure look from the street. (Community match: $5,180)

$25,000 to Downtown Seattle Association to improve the crosswalks at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Westlake Avenue as part of SDOT’s Community Crosswalk program. Community-driven design and collaboration will be essential to the project. (Community match: $77,225)