SECC Requests Project Proposals for Neighborhood Enhancement Grant
Special Projects Near CTA Greenline
CHICAGO (May 16, 2019) – The South East Chicago Commission (SECC) is delighted to announce a Request For Proposals (RFP) for the 2019 Neighborhood Enhancement Grant Program with generous support from the Elizabeth Louise “Betty Lou” Smith Fund, Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC), the MacArthur Foundation, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), Hyde Park Bank, a Wintrust Company and individuals donors.
The SECC and our partners are excited to resume making grants for 2019 that assist eligible organizations with neighborhood beautification projects in the Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park, and Woodlawn communities. The grant award amount is based upon the proposed project, with a maximum grant of $4,000 per organization.
Thanks to the generous support of PHIMC, this year we are able to offer grant awards specifically for special projects located near three Greenline CTA stations.
– Diane Burnham, Executive Director, SECC
SPECIAL PROJECT NOTICE:
For 2019, in partnership with Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC), two special projects will be selected that are located within a ½ mile of the Greenline CTA stations at 51ST Street, Garfield or Cottage Grove.
SPECIAL PROJECT SCOPE:
Community walkability contributes to health and well-being by allowing residents to get places safely and easily and by increasing opportunities for physical activity and social connection. Examples of factors that affect walkability include sidewalk conditions, motorist and pedestrian behaviors, signage, perception of violence, neighborhood aesthetics, and nearby amenities.
Projects that aim to improve walkability can focus on the safety and accessibility of people walking and accessing public transit, cultivating and retaining local arts and culture, and promoting social connectedness by converting underutilized spaces into people-centric places. Examples of low-cost, feasible changes that could be implemented in the project term include, but are not limited to:
- Changes to signage that are inclusive, culturally competent, and accessible with regard to age, ability, and language.
- Beautification efforts such as trashcans, planters, signage and wayfinding, etc.
- Murals, sculptures, and other forms of public art.
The proposed project must be implemented within a ½ mile radius of one of the eligible CTA stops and aimed at improving walkability from the CTA stop to community-defined everyday destination(s). Everyday destinations should be defined by the applicant and community members as assets that support health and well-being in the community. Examples may include grocery stores, schools, parks, faith-based organizations, affordable housing, healthcare organizations, local businesses, community centers or cultural organizations, among others.
Please contact the SECC office 773-324-6926 regarding eligibility. Interested groups and organizations should complete and submit the application online.
For more deadlines and information, visit our Neighborhood Enhancement Grant page.