Streetscapes Improvements Aided by Grants

The Slavic Village Development in Cleveland, Ohio is one of nine neighborhoods slated to receive grant money that will go toward a variety of improvement projects.

Nine Cleveland, Ohio neighborhoods will share $1.8 million in grants to help make improvements within their communities.

Neighborhood Progress Inc., a Cleveland-based, non-profit group aimed at supporting community development, said the money will go towards a variety of neighborhood improvements including commercial-property renovation, real estate development, urban farmers and streetscape safety and appearance.

NPI was able to award the grants thanks to the support it receives from organizations such as the Mandel, Cleveland and George Gund foundations, Enterprise Community Partners and area banks.

The neighborhood development corporations, which work with NPI, were chosen based on their history of improving their neighborhoods and their potential for community growth. The three-year grants are presently in the second year. The groups received the money for this cycle after NPI studied how the money was used during the first year.

“They went through a competitive application process,” said Joel Ratner, president of NPI. “They had to show how the money was being invested.”

The nine community programs receiving awards are:
• Detroit Shoreway Community Development Corp, $225,000.
• Slavic Village Development, $221,500.
• Buckeye Area Development Corp., $195,000
• Northeast Shores Development Corp., $195,000.
• Ohio City Near West Development Corp., $195,000.
• Tremont West Development Corp., $195,000.
• Burten Bell Carr Development Corp., $190,000.
• Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp., $190,000.
• Famicos Foundation, $190,000.

Two special, one-time $25,000 grants will be given to the Union Miles Development Corp. and Shaker Square Area Development Corp.

The nine community development corporations will be eligible to apply for additional grants when the three-year cycle ends in 2013.