City of Seattle’s Neighborhood Matching Fund invests $750000 in 23 community-initiated projects – Westside Seattle

information from the City of Seattle

The City of Seattle has awarded $756,626 to support 23 community-initiated projects through Seattle Department of NeighborhoodsNeighborhood Matching Fund (NMF). Twenty-three community groups received awards ranging from $9,418 to $50,000 and have pledged $721,956 to match their award through local cash donations, volunteer hours, donated materials, and in-kind professional services.

For decades, our Neighborhood Matching Fund has showcased Seattles deep commitment to our communities, while showcasing exactly what makes our city the best city to live in, said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. The 23 organizations receiving funding today are bringing forward their visions of a healthier, safer, more vibrant Seattle that benefits not just their neighborhoods but the entire City. From parks and playgrounds to culturally appropriate exhibits to providing job skills, Neighborhood Matching Fund projects are on the leading edge of inclusivity, connecting our City in meaningful ways.

The funds we received from the Neighborhood Matching Fund will help us continue our mission to support our amazing youth, families, and community, said Larry Wilmore of Fathers and Sons Together. Strong communities are everything. We can't change the world, but we can help strengthen our community to be a more vibrant, safe, and enjoyable place where fathers, sons, mothers, and daughters live, create memories, and thrive.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund offers grants to organizations committed to fostering and building our community. It has two funds: the Community Partnership Fund, which is generally offered three times a year with awards up to $50,000; and Small Sparks Fund, which is offered on a rolling basis throughout most of the year with awards of up to $5,000.

We are so grateful to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods for our recent award from the Neighborhood Matching Fund, said Isaac Araya, Board President of the Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle. With these funds, we plan to improve our Community Center by replacing the existing HVAC system. This award will help ensure that our Community Center can continue to be a vital hub for cultural and community events, civic engagement activities, and our vital Senior Virtual Village program."

Over its nearly 32-year history, more than5,000 projectshave been funded in partnership with the NMF Program, and its investment in neighborhoods can be seen across the city. For information about NMF, visitseattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.

The following community organizations will receive Neighborhood Matching Fund awards during the Fall 2020 funding cycle:

Citywide

$30,000 for Northwest Arts Streaming Hub forNASH at Nite,a youth-curated, all-ages variety show that prioritizes local BIPOC artists. The goal of the project is to provide career-connected learning opportunities to youth who are interested in content creation, live streaming, and digital producing, along with free quality virtual entertainment during this pandemic crisis. (Community match: $33,550)

$24,754 to RV Steering Committee forMasks Up: Masks Down, a series of 12 virtual workshops on subsequent Saturdays for youth ages 11-17. The project will encourage participants to share stories about their life experiences since COVID-19 using art, literature photography and spoken word. (Community match: $14,800)

$33,360 to Emergency Communication Hubs-Seattle forEmergency Hubs: Increasing Our Outreach. The project will develop five additional emergency hubs, translate current Hub brochure and videos into multiple languages, and provide interpretation at 2021 outreach events. (Community match: $20,976)

District 1

$49,500 to Highland Park Elementary PTA for Phase 2 of theHighland Park School Playground Project. This will support updating their 2016 Playground Master Plan to reflect current community needs and develop construction documents. (Community match: $31,000)

$25,840 to Highland Park Improvement Club forCommunity Gathering & Performance Space Renovationto provide HVAC work, ceiling repair, and new lighting and proscenium in the interior gathering/performance space, a popular venue for community meetings, arts and cultural events. (Community match: $28,380)

$40,650 to Seattle Nantes Sister City Association forNantes Park Beautificationto transform the pocket park into something more kid-friendly, more accessible, and more reflective of our sister city relationship with Nantes, France. The project will take designs through a community review and produce final construction-ready plans. (Community match: $21,300)

District 2

$50,000 to Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle forEritrean Association HVAC Replacementat the Associations Community Center, a vital hub for cultural activities and other community gatherings for Seattles Eritrean community. Replacing the existing HVAC system will improve the large hall for future gatherings. (Community match: $80,019)

$49,778 to Friends of Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands forRainier Beach Urban Farm Greenhouses Renovationto increase capacity for food production at the farm. The work will include installation of thermostatically controlled sidewalls and solar array panels, soil remediation, construction of new raised beds, and permitting. (Community match: $70,120)

$50,000 to Friends of Detective Cookie Chess Park for Phase 4 ofDetective Cookie Chess Parkto focus on initial construction of the park, including demolition, grading and drainage, and utility installation. The project envisions an inter-generational, multicultural community space where neighbors can gather and play chess while honoring Detective Denise Cookie Bouldin. (Community match: $35,560)

$49,745 to Mini Mart City Park for Phase 3 ofMini Mart City Park Constructionto fund exterior finishes, including carpentry, siding, railings, paint, and stain. The goal of the park is to provide a place for arts, education, environmental action, and community collaboration in the Duwamish Valley. (Community match: $70,100)

$35,000 to Brothers United in Leadership Development forBuild 2021, a series of community-building events to create leadership opportunities for Black men to positively impact, heal, unite, inspire, celebrate, engage, and build their community. (Community match: $48,040)

$25,000 to Somali Community Services of Seattle forVirtual Variety Video Extravaganzato create two virtual variety shows planned and developed by the community with the goal of fostering development of relationships across cultural communities. (Community match: $26,100)

$50,000 to Georgetown Open Space Steering Committee for8th Avenue Street Endto build portions of the developed street and park design which was developed with input from the community. Work will involve design, engineering, and close coordination between lead agencies and partners. (Community match: $40,286)

$30,000 to FAST Fathers and Sons Together forNext Generation Level Up Job Readiness Projectto provide twenty-five South Seattle residents of color between the ages of 15-24 with job-ready skills like resume writing, interviewing skills, and on-the-job performance expectations. The program will partner with leaders and industry professionals of color to facilitate and train participants. (Community match: $21,400)

$18,315 to Chinatown-International District Exhibit Committee forAsian Pacific Islander Americans: COVID-19 Exhibit, a free digital exhibit of art, personal stories, and artifacts. The exhibit will partner with Wing Luke Museum to educate the public about the effects of COVID-19 on Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the Chinatown-International District and Seattle. (Community match: $9,200)

District 3

$33,000 to Somali Youth Soccer Association forEast African Homework Help and Soccer Programto develop a free after-school program. The program will virtually assist youth with homework and improve physical fitness through soccer drills on the weekends. (Community match: $33,570)

District 4

$13,552 to Friends of Picardo Farms P-Patch forAccessibility Improvements at the Picardo P-Patchto rebuild and enlarge existing accessible garden beds, add specialized garden tools and storage, and enhance critical pathways to increase accessibility. (Community match: 11,542)

$43,000 to Elis Park Project for Phase 3 ofBurke-Gilman Park Renovationto design and fabricate custom bike stations, sculptural elements, and educational panels. The park renovation will create an accessible, inclusive, nature-based park for people of all ages and abilities. (Community match: $27,500)

$20,819 to Magnuson Childrens Garden Steering Committee forMagnuson Childrens Garden All Are Welcome Muralto work with youth residents of Magnuson Park housing and surrounding neighbors to design and create murals that create a strong All are Welcome in the Garden message. (Community match: $19,800)

$30,095 to The U District Partnership forU District Mural Programto install three new works of public art in different areas of the neighborhood. (Community match: $15,510)

District 5

$12,831 to Greenwood-Phinney Greenways forNE GreenwoodHomezoneto calm traffic on five neighborhood streets. The project includes planning, designing, and installing custom-made barrel planters. (Community match: $16,590)

$9,418 to Victory Heights Community Council forVictory Heights Neighborhood Signal Box Artworkto feature the work of eight local artists work on utility boxes in the area. The project is focused on growing the beauty and identity of the Victory Heights neighborhood. (Community match: $8,773)

District 7

$31,969 to UpGarden P-Patch forUpGarden Renovation Project of Mercer St. Garageto beautify and enhance the community garden space. Renovations will include restoring garden beds, redesigning the entrance, refreshing signage and adding new features such as benches, gazebo, and bike rack. (Community match: $37,840)

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City of Seattle's Neighborhood Matching Fund invests $750000 in 23 community-initiated projects - Westside Seattle