information from City of Seattle

Mayor Ed Murray announced an investment of $1,182,400 to support 28 community-initiated projects across the City. The awards are from the Neighborhood Matching Fund’s Community Partnership Fund which provides awards of up to $100,000 to community organizations committed to fostering and building our community. The awards range from $10,500 to $100,000 with the 28 organizations pledging a total of $1,729,494 in community match resources of locally raised money, donated materials, in-kind professional services and volunteer hours.

“Through the Neighborhood Matching Fund, the City helps to support the efforts of the many community members whose creativity and hard work make this a more vibrant, interesting, and inclusive city for everyone,” said Mayor Murray. “From providing free classical concerts to creating a youth fitness challenge to celebrating the rich heritage of ethnic communities – our community members can use this fund to make their ideas come alive, and we are all richer for it.”

NMF consists of two separate funds: Community Partnership Fund, which is offered three times a year with cash awards up to $100,000, and the Small Sparks Fund, which is offered on a rolling basis throughout the year with cash awards of up to $5,000. To make the program more accessible, several enhancements were introduced this year including a streamlined application, added flexibility, and faster review processes. The program improvements have already resulted in nearly half of the applications coming from first time applicant groups. The next CPF application deadlines are June 26 and September 25.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) provides more than $3 million each year to local organizations. Over its 29-year history, more than 5,000 projects have been funded in partnership with the NMF Program, and its investment in neighborhoods can be seen across the city. For more information about NMF, visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.

2017 Community Partnership Fund Awards – Spring Cycle

Citywide (Across all Council Districts)

$95,400 to The Seattle Globalist to organize a series of 17 free media workshops to train diverse communities to identify and produce multimedia stories about issues facing international communities around Seattle. The stories will be featured on its website and at a public celebration this fall. (Community match: $53,760)

$100,000 to Seattle Repertory Theatre to engage all ages and backgrounds from eight neighborhoods to participate in one year of free theatre-based classes led by professional teaching artists. It will include a production of four performances featuring the participants. (Community match: $734,493)

$60,000 to Town Hall Seattle to facilitate Inside/Out Community-Created Events in four neighborhoods. Neighborhood committees will collaborate as co-creators to develop and produce three to five inclusive arts and civics events in their neighborhoods. (Community match: $100,900)

$50,000 to Center for Linguistic and Cultural Democracy to organize a series of workshops and events to celebrate the arts and culture of the Caribbean throughout summer 2017. (Community match: $46,440)

District 1

$100,000 to Friends of Highland Park Elementary to construct a new public entryway and new play features at the Highland Park Elementary School playground. (Community match: $129,400)

$28,300 to Friends of 5th and Cloverdale to engage the community and a landscape architecture consulting team in a design process for streetscape improvements at the intersection of 5th Ave S and S Cloverdale St. (Community match: $18,730)

$10,500 to The Community Outreach Challenge Steering Committee to host the Community Outreach Challenge, a three-day fitness challenge for youth, to promote teamwork and decision-making through fitness. (Community match: $10,940)

District 2

$30,400 to Rainier Beach Merchants Association to organize the Rainier Beach Music and Arts Fest (BAAMFest), a cultural festival held in July to celebrate Rainier Beach’s beautiful, vibrant community, cultural heritage, and highlight its business district. (Community match: $29,895)

$29,800 to Othello Park Alliance to organize the Othello Park International Music and Arts Festival in August which will include music, food, art, and dance for all ages and cultures. (Community match: $31,634)

$15,100 to Friends of Japantown and Beyond to develop a series of free community walks in Chinatown-International District this year. The walk route will include sites of historical, economic, and cultural significance to the Japanese American community. (Community match: $39,100)

$27,800 to Friends of Block Party at The Station to organize the 2017 Block Party at The Station, an annual music and arts festival which showcases South Seattle artists and small businesses. This year's festival will spotlight marginalized communities with most festival performers being women and LGBTQ artists of color. (Community match: $18,568)

$34,000 to East African Arts & Cultural Association to organize events to celebrate Ethiopian Week in July. The events will bring together the Ethiopian community to practice their heritage, engage Ethiopian youth in relevant community issues, and strengthen mutual understanding and respect among various cultures. (Community match: $19,400)

$20,000 to Big-Brained Superheroes Club to facilitate mini workshops by the Big-Brained Superheroes of Yesler Terrace, youth ages 5-18, on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). (Community match: $23,500)

$21,200 to Soul Societies to provide art instruction and cultural exploration to approximately 50 youth as a part of Tales of Art Project. This project will provide a place for Vietnamese and East African youth to create and showcase their artwork with the hope of increasing intra-cultural awareness and appreciation. (Community match: $10,760)

$25,000 to Somali Community Services of Seattle to organize a series of theater and acting trainings for youth in South Seattle this summer followed by a public performance. This project will bring together community members from various racial and ethnic backgrounds to promote understanding and cohesion. (Community match: $14,000)

$30,000 to It Takes a Village to organize The Middle Passage Healing Project, a series of events designed to foster unity among African Americans and East Africans. Digital storytelling, dance, art, music, African proverbs, podcasts, social media and cultural recipes will be highlighted. (Community match: $42,800)

$30,000 to Fathers & Sons Together (FAST) to organize six outdoor activities and powerful lessons with the goal of empowering fathers and guardians to embrace the pivotal role they hold in the family structure and support them in mentoring their sons and male youth into manhood. (Community match: $21,400)

District 3

$99,000 to Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle to make physical improvements to the Eritrean Association Community Center to improve opportunities for community events and educational activities. (Community match: $49,500)

$30,000 to Garinagu Houngua to organize a series of music, language, history, and food workshops centered on cultural exchange between the Garifuna and Panamanian communities in Seattle. (Community match: $35,273)

$24,000 to Ethiopian Women Mothers & Family to organize an all-day celebration at Powell Barnett Park of the achievements of Ethiopian women through arts and culture, speaker presentations, family entertainments, and role model awards. (Community match: $39,275)

District 4

$58,000 to Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange to install equipment to launch KMGP 101.1, a low power radio station, with the goal of connecting communities using arts and culture and providing equity over the airwaves. (Community match: $44,677)

District 5

$46,800 to Friends of Jane Addams Middle School to engage the community and a landscape architect to prepare conceptual landscape design drawings to improve outdoor usability and safety at Jane Addams Middle School. (Community match: $24,930)

$50,000 to Friends of Evanston P-Patch to renovate the Evanston P-Patch’s decaying infrastructure by building a new path, new fence, sheds, a greenhouse, and a community gathering space with input from gardeners and neighbors. (Community match: $49,600)

District 7

$18,100 to Discover Music in the Park to organize a free outdoor classical music and dance concert in Discovery Park this August. (Community match: $11,760)

$20,000 to Magnolia Chamber of Commerce to install “Discover Magnolia” street flags, host three art walks, and implement an art in empty storefronts program as part of the Visible Village Vitality effort. (Community match: $12,700)

$40,000 to STRUM Community Group to organize music programming and potluck events to bring together musicians from the city’s homeless population and neighbors who share an interest in making music and building community. (Community match: $50,000)

$65,000 to Sundiata African American Cultural Association to produce Festival Sundiata, June 10-11, the largest African American festival in the Northwest that celebrates the culture of people of African descent, through music, food, dance and artistic expression. (Community match: $52,660)

$24,000 to Friends of Sheridan Street End to collaborate with a design firm to prepare conceptual design and permitting for improvements that would provide greater public access and community amenities at the West Sheridan Street End. ($13,400)