Central District projects receive Neighborhood Matching Fund awards

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image003Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle City Council recently announced six recipients of $465,000 in awards from the Neighborhood Matching Fund’s Large Projects Fund for community-initiated projects. Two are in the Central District.

The Central Area Urban Gardeners were awarded $67,330 from the fund with a community match of $71,138. The funding will go towards “equipment purchase and installation to support a new agricultural demonstration project designed to grow healthy, safe, affordable, organic vegetables indoors. It will involve year-round training and education in food production for youth in the community.”

Historic Seattle for the Get Lifted received $100,000 and a community match of $504,900 for “outreach, fund raising, and construction of an elevator and tower for this historic landmark to make Washington Hall accessible to the community.”

And in Madison Valley, the Madison Valley Community Council was awarded $41,250 and a community match of $100,000 for “construction of a neighborhood landmark sign located at East Madison St and 28th Ave East, the heart of the district. Plans include landscaping, a means to advertise seasonal events, and possible redesign of the intersection crosswalks.”

“The Neighborhood Matching Fund reflects the city’s commitment to providing concrete ways to help community members make Seattle a better place to live,” Mayor Mike McGinn said in a press release. “The fund serves as a resource and catalyst for community members to turn their creative ideas and energy into reality.”

Here’s more on the inner workings of the Neighborhood Matching Fund:

Recipients of the Neighborhood Matching Fund match their awards through a combination of cash, donated materials and expertise, and volunteer labor. This round of Large Projects Fund projects is matching the city’s $465,000 contribution with resources valued at $936,000.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund Large Projects Fund applications are reviewed by the Citywide Review Team (CRT) which recommends the projects to the Mayor and City Council. Made up of volunteers from each of the 13 neighborhood districts, plus four at-large community members, the CRT reviews applications, interviews applicants, and makes funding recommendations. The applications are also reviewed by members from District Councils.

Created to promote and support community-based, self-help projects, the Neighborhood Matching Fund is managed by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Fund has awarded approximately $50 million with a community match of more than $71 million. The next opportunity to apply to the Neighborhood Matching Fund is through its Small and Simple Projects Fund. The deadline for applications is October 7. To learn more, visitwww.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.

If you value this coverage and want to support the continued independence of Central District News, please subscribe today for as little as $5/month — DRIVE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30.

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