City Offers Know Your Neighbors Grant to Help Communities Reconnect
Published on August 13, 2021
To help communities reconnect and improve the quality of life in Palo Alto, the City’s Community Services Department just launched its Know Your Neighbors Grant Program.
The goals of the program are to:
- Build a sense of community.
- Develop or renew neighborhood relationships.
- Encourage interaction between generations and cultures.
- Increase governance and organizational leadership of neighborhood associations.
- Develop collaborative partnerships between Palo Alto neighborhoods and the City.
Neighborhood Associations hosting the event can qualify up to $1,000 per event. Block parties can qualify for a grant up to $500. Citizens or neighborhood associations may apply for activities such as block parties, event kick-off celebrations, neighborhood crime prevention and safety activities, and gatherings involving the building of connections between neighbors. Grants may be applied for at any time throughout the calendar year (at least one month prior to event date) and will be awarded on activities that meet eligibility requirements on a "first come, first served" basis.
To qualify for the grant, applicants must be Palo Alto residents and may be representatives of a formal neighborhood association, neighborhood or community group, or informally associated neighbors. Activities must be neighborhood-focused, initiated and supported by residents living in the neighborhood, and have a well-developed plan. Activities must benefit the neighborhood. Events must be inclusive and take place within the Palo Alto city limits, and hosting group must not discriminate in membership decisions based on race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law.
Learn about other eligibility requirements—including a required post-event evaluation report—and what expenses are and aren’t allowed, in the guidelines posted here. Learn more about the application process here.
If you are proposing a new City program, learn more here. If you’d like to consider hosting an event at a City facility, go here for rental information.