Lacey  considering expanding Neighborhood Grant Program

The Lacey General Government and Public Safety Committee will be recommending that the city council expand its Neighborhood Grant Program (NGP) beyond homeowner associations (HOA) to include informal neighborhood groups.

Lacey Community Relations Specialist Jenny Bauersfeld said the NGP has been successful over the years, and interest in the program quickly grew.

"We're really wanting to try to reach more neighborhoods and create that relationship," Bauersfeld said during the committee meeting yesterday. "And have them feel a sense of pride in their neighborhood."

Bauersfeld noted that at a February 7 meeting, council members expressed interest in potentially expanding NGP to include informal neighborhood groups.

If the council approves the expansion, recognized HOAs or informal neighborhoods within the city limits may submit project proposals. The informal neighborhoods must have a project team of at least five unrelated members who live in one neighborhood and accept responsibility for the project.

Based on the proposed guidelines, projects must have documented support from the neighborhood or HOA and have a measurable outcome that provides public benefit to the community.

Projects on an individual's private property and projects for profit groups or religious or political groups will not be eligible for the grant program.

"We don't want to be funding individual homeowner property projects as well, so we'll be very careful of that," Bauersfeld said.