Ideas Needed for Neighborhood Grant

EDITORS NOTE: If anyone has ideas for a Lido Shores neighborhood project that would receive a matching grant from  Sarasota County if approved, please let LSPOA President Bob Lifeso know. lifeso1@aol.com

SARASOTA COUNTY - Sarasota County's Neighborhood Initiative Grant Program is now accepting applications to fund changes that neighborhood groups wish to see in their communities. The program, which was enacted in 2002, provides up to $10,000 per neighborhood in matching grants 

The program requires neighborhoods to match at least 50 percent of project expenses. While some neighborhoods match funds through cash and donations, others opt for sweat equity - garnering credit of $15 per hour through volunteer labor.

"Neighborhoods are a building block of Sarasota County. Our character is improved through theirs," says Outreach Specialist Miranda Lansdale, who administers the grant program. "Many grant recipients are amazed by how much a project brings their neighbors together - especially the projects that incorporate volunteer labor. It's a great investment for the county to encourage neighbors to build relationships while enhancing the community."

Sarasota County encourages neighborhoods that submit proposals to be creative in addressing their needs. Projects must fall within one of five themes:

•Character: "place making" through the creation or enhancement of assets that are sources of pride and neighborhood identity.

•Leadership: training neighborhood leaders or teams and developing skills for neighborhood governance or action.

•Safety: equipping the neighborhood with knowledge or tools to prevent, prepare for, confront or respond to crime, danger or disaster.

•Environment: protecting water, energy resources, and native habitats.

•Health: increasing access to nutritious diets and physical or mental fitness.

Dates and information for the next round of Neighborhood Initiative Grant workshops are available at www.scgov.net(keywords neighborhood grants) or use this link:

https://www.scgov.net/NeighborhoodServices/Pages/NeighborhoodGrants.aspx

Although workshop attendance is mandatory for grant applicants, there is no cost to register, and materials are provided. Deadline for the next round of grant applications is Wednesday, Sept. 7.

To learn more about the program or register for a workshop, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or email neighbor@scgov.net