Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program
Application Guidelines

The Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program is an opportunity for neighborhood associations to receive up to $1,000 for neighborhood improvement projects.  The purpose of this grant program is to help improve the safety of residents living in Burlington's neighborhoods.

To apply, a representative from a neighborhood association must submit a grant application, which describes an idea for their project along with a simple budget.

Grant Program Guidelines

1.  All applications are due by April 15th.  Any group wishing to have an extension of up to one week must request that extension in writing by April 15th.

2.  Eligible projects will:

1. Promote safer, more livable neighborhoods.
2. Foster positive neighborhood relationships. 
3. Build a better sense of community and neighborhood pride. 
4. Be self-sustaining or leave a lasting legacy of public safety improvements. 
5. Will focus on improving the quality of life for residents in one of Burlington's low-income neighborhoods.

3.  Neighborhood Associations representing any particular Street or Geographic Area may not receive funds for food for a block party for three consecutive years.  After receiving funds for food for a block party for two consecutive years any particular Street or Geographic Area must wait two years until it is again eligible for funding for food for a block party again.  (This guideline does not consider grants made before 2002.)

4.  The Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program allows for Neighborhood Associations to apply for up to $3 per person for food for any event.  Neighborhood Associations must match grant funds with in kind or donations from other sources.  For example: Food funds could be used to purchase hotdogs and hamburgers and neighbors could each bring a side dish or ask a local store to donate buns and condiments.

5.  Neighborhood Associations representing any particular Street or Geographic Area may not receive funds a for a dumpster for three consecutive years.  After receiving funds for a dumpster for two consecutive years any particular Street or Geographic Area must wait two years until it is again eligible for funds for a dumpster again.  (This guideline does not consider grants made before 2002.)

6.  Funds from the Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program can be used to make improvements to personal property when the improvements benefit the safety of the overall neighborhood to the extent that funding sources allow for this use of funds.  Proper documentation as required by funding sources must be obtained and verified.

7.  Funds from the Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program can be used to purchase equipment to the extent that funding sources allow for this use of funds.  An adequate plan for continued community access to the tools/equipment must be demonstrated.

8.  Funds from the Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program cannot be used to purchase trees.

9. The Burlington Neighborhood Project Steering Committee strongly encourages Neighborhood Associations wishing to plant flowers to plant perennials. Funds from the Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant Program can only be used to purchase annual flowers or plantings for any particular Geographic Area for one year.

Time line:

Please contact Ita Meno at 802-865-7172 for the timeline for the 2007 grant season.

Suggested Tips For Applying for a Grant:

The Burlington Neighborhood Project A*VISTA members are happy to assist all residents and neighborhood associations that are thinking about applying for a grant.  To connect with the A*VISTA working in your neighborhood, please call 865-7172.

1.  Spend some time thinking about your concerns and hopes for your neighborhood.  Come up with one or more ideas for an improvement project in your neighborhood.

2.  Talk to your neighbors about your idea and encourage other people to become interested and involved.

3.  Plan a time and place for a neighborhood association meeting to discuss the needs of the neighborhood.  Putting a flyer in the door of each person on your street and talking directly to your neighbors helps to get better attendance at meetings.  Assistance with copying or creating flyers is available through the Burlington Neighborhood Project.

4.  At the meeting, gather ideas for improvement projects in your neighborhood.  As a group, prioritize the project ideas based on what the group believes the neighborhood needs most, and decide on which project is to be planned now.

5.  Decide what needs to be checked out in order to complete your improvement project successfully.  Make a list of who has volunteered to take responsibility for specific tasks.  For example, if your group were to decide that there is a need in your neighborhood for assistance in getting motion sensor lights you should think about:  Where should the lights be mounted to make the neighborhood as safe as possible?  Are the owners of those properties interested in having lights mounted on their property?  How much do lights cost?  How much does installation cost?  Who will be in charge of purchasing the lights and assuring that they are installed in the proper place?

6.  Decide who is going to be the contact person and write the application for the Burlington Neighborhood Project Grant.  Decide who will represent the neighborhood association for the Question & Answer session at the Burlington Neighborhood Project Steering Committee Meeting.  There must be only one contact and one application per Neighborhood Association, regardless of the number of projects.  If you neighborhood has not already done so, you should complete the Neighborhood Association Charter Agreement.

7.  Schedule another meeting for early in June.  The contact person will receive notification of whether or not your neighborhood project received grant money this year by June 1st.  The contact person can announce the results of the grant application at this next meeting and further plans can be decided upon at this time.

8.  If funded, the project should be completed as outlined in your application. The deadline for the expenditure of 2006 Burlington Neighborhood Project grant funds is Oct. 31, 2006.

9.  A short project expenditure report form will need to be filled out and sent back to the Burlington Neighborhood Project by Dec. 31, 2006.  All receipts from your project should be attached to this form.  We encourage you to share photographs of your project with us at this time as well . . . it will help us in sustaining our program to show the community and our funders the great projects done by the neighborhoods we support.

To view a listing of Burlington Neighborhood Project grants funded in 2006, click here.

There are also grants available through the City's Community Development Block Grant Program.

 Page last updated April 07, 2008