New & Noteworthy
Community Initiatives Receive Nearly $120,00 in 2024 Grants from the City of Hartford and the Hartford Foundation
HARTFORD, CONN. (June 6, 2024) — The Love Your Block (LYB) Grant program is back in action this summer for the sixth year in a row and will award funding for 14 neighborhood projects. Organized by the City of Hartford and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, this collaboration aims to bring together city leaders and citizens to revitalize neighborhoods one block at a time by granting them funding to support community beautification projects.
This year, the program received almost 80 requests from residents, nonprofits, faith establishments, and Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZs), looking to beautify their community and create a sense of togetherness. Grants recipients were chosen by a panel of Hartford residents, city staff members, as well as Hartford Foundation staff.
From painted murals and community gardening to signage updates and landscaping, each organization had practical ideas that corresponded with neighborhood and city plans, and seven of them were awarded grants to begin their community projects. Fourteen projects received grant awards totaling $119,769 over one year. The seven Resident Grant projects will be funded through a pass-through grant to Hartford Next. The City of Hartford funded two of the seven resident grant projects.
The City of Hartford Traffic Calming division is contributing to this year’s Love Your Block initiative by supporting projects that propose traffic calming and street safety components, this could include adding street murals, reducing traffic speeds or collaborating on plans to increase traffic safety.
“We’re thrilled to continue the tradition of collaboration with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and dozens of community organizations and residents,” said Mayor Arulampalam. “The Love Your Block Grant program gives residents a voice in how their neighborhood is shaped, and this year’s projects are driven by what Hartford residents want to see on their block. From murals and planting daffodils to signage updates and other city beautification projects, we’re excited to watch residents’ visions come to life.”
“We continue to be inspired by the creativity and ingenuity of Hartford residents and community organizations that participate in the Love Your Block program,” said Hartford Foundation President and CEO Jay Williams. “This year’s projects, originating from a wide variety of organizations and residents throughout the city, are revitalizing neighborhoods one block at a time, connecting residents with one another and building a sense of pride and ownership of these neighborhoods. Neighborhood residents are the most knowledgeable about their needs and are best equipped to identify beautification activities. Love Your Block provides them with the tools and resources to make their visions a reality.”
“Every year I am amazed by the passion and commitment of our residents to transform their neighborhoods,” said Janice Castle, Director of Community Engagement. “The creativity of our residents knows no bounds, with almost 80 applicants submitting concepts for review this year. Our community members continue to be inspirational in their transformative desire to build the Hartford we all deserve.”
This round of Love Your Block Community Grants includes:
| Organization Name | Project Description | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association | This project will create a mural on Capitol Avenue at the nexus of three Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZs): Asylum Hill, Frog Hollow, and Parkville. | $15,000 |
| Center for Latino Progress/CPRF | This traffic calming project is focused on two Park Street intersections and wayfinding for Burns Latin Studies Academy and Maria Colon Sanchez Elementary to the Hartford Public Library. | $21,800 |
| Colt Park Foundation | Proposing the planting of 600 daffodils around the park, as well as the addition of a game table, handicap table, and a table with seat backs in and around the pool area. | $12,045 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Hartford/ | Mural project featuring strawberries in full bloom, as the theme of the Strawberry Festival community event and fundraiser, along with medallions on street-facing doors of welcoming symbols of peace and inclusivity. | $7,000 |
| Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Inc. | Proposal would support wooden benches and tables for the Outdoor Classroom patio, newly paved pathways, containers of plants and shrubs, and a water fountain for people and their pets. | $25,000 |
| South Downtown NRZ (fiscal agent: Hartford Next, Inc.) | Project involves repaving and repainting the basketball court, replacing hoops, adding a drinking fountain, adding spectator benches, and adding court lights at Ramon Quiros Park. | $31,124 |
| Trinity College | Project involves updating and maintenance to the existing community garden, including replacement of lumber, staining/painting, the creation of two new beds, replacement of a flowerpot, and garden season extenders to grow food during colder months. | $7,800 |
| Resident Grant Project Leads: Kathy Evans Elizabeth O'Leary | The project is to beautify three neglected public areas. In partnership with Knox, residents will have flowerpots placed at the intersection of Stone Street and New Britain Ave., the intersection of Flatbush and Brookfield and in the small park at the Y cross of Brookfield and Flatbush. The project will benefit residents, pedestrians, and drivers, by providing visual beauty and community pride. | $2,500 |
| Resident Grant Project Leads: Louisa Barton, Cynthia Hudson | The project is to beautify three neglected public areas. In partnership with Knox, residents will have flowerpots placed at the intersection of Stone Street and New Britain Ave., the intersection of Flatbush and Brookfield and in the small park at the Y cross of Brookfield and Flatbush. The project will benefit residents, pedestrians, and drivers, by providing visual beauty and community pride. | $2,500 |
| Resident Grant Project Leads: Blair Hughes, WECA President, Lindsay Ewing, WECA Secretary | This project is for a street mural near the West End's Noah Webster Microsociety School with social justice theme. | Funded through the City of Hartford $4,999 |
| Resident Grant Project Leads: Aaron Gill, Marcus Ordonez | This project is a continuation to update the asphalt art that was removed when the City did new paving on Lawrence. In addition, to adding planters from Knox on has served as a huge deterrent to speeding on Capitol Avenue. | $2,500 |
| Resident Grant Project Leads: Blair Hughes, WECA President, Lindsay Ewing, WECA Secretary | Project to update the signage at the West End Gateways and landscaping. | $2,500 |
| Resident Grant Project Leads: Jay Stange / Center for Latino Progress, Graciela Rivera / Hartford Public Library | This project is for two separate projects which encompass a wayfinding, traffic calming, and an art/media installation project centered on Park Street in Frog Hollow. The purpose of the project is to encourage safe, active travel for families and children between area schools (Burns Latino Studies Academy and Maria Colon Sanchez Elementary) and the Park Street “Lyric” branch of the Hartford Public Library. | Funded through the City of Hartford $4,999 |
| Resident Grant Project Lead: Melissa Wright | This project is to beautify Moylan Elementary with the help of the students, faculty, and parents. With the community's involvement, residents can clean up the campus, plant flowers, and install an artistic mural showcasing the diverse culture of the school. This group effort in beautifying Moylan can instill pride in the community and the students. | $2,500 |
Love Your Block has been the spark to a broader neighborhood beautification and resilience strategy supported through the partnership between the City of Hartford and the Hartford Foundation. Branded as “Love Hartford,” the strategy supports large neighborhood pride and beautification through the Adopt Your Block trailer, anti-litter marketing, engagement of local artists to reinvigorate bus shelters, resident recognition awards to celebrate beautification achievements.