Salt Lake City

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Mini-grants to improve Jordan River area available to public

July 11, 2022

Salt Lake City community members can now apply for ‘Love Your Block’ grant funding, a program launched earlier this year to beautify public spaces along the Jordan River corridor.

“Love Your Block is about partnering with residents to identify and solve public problems together,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “It’s not just about transforming a space, it’s about creating a place for neighbors to get to know one another and work together to improve the neighborhood.”

Those interested have until July 15 to submit an application detailing how their proposed project will beautify the area, improve safety or build community. Available grants range from $250 to $2,500 and will be awarded in early August.

“We hope ‘Love Your Block’ will inspire residents to foster friendships and bolster community interactions,” said Katie Riser, Special Projects and Volunteer Manager for Mayor Mendenhall’s Office. “Community improvement projects can help people feel safer in spaces that they live or work simply by creating opportunities for neighbors to meet and bond over shared interests.”

Salt Lake City was chosen in 2021 as one of eight cities to receive ‘Love Your Block’ funding through Cities of Service, a national coalition helping to build stronger cities by changing the way local government and citizens work together. The $100,000 grant is helping Salt Lake City build relationships with residents to improve neighborhoods and foster collaborative caretaking of public spaces. 

 A wide range of volunteer-led projects are eligible for Love Your Block funding, including:

  • neighborhood cleanups (e.g. trash pick-ups, trimming overgrown plants, removing invasive weeds),
  • installing public art, 
  • replacing or adding signage to parks or roadways,
  • lighting installations,
  • reducing abandoned waste (e.g. trash in the Jordan River, debris in vacant lots),
  • repurposing vacant or underutilized lots as active community spaces, and more.

The next Love Your Block grant cycle will open in early 2023. Residents can also get involved as volunteers in any of the awarded projects.

Information about grant applications and volunteering can be found at the City’s website. Those needing assistance completing an application can contact the Love Your Block team at lyb@slcgov.com to arrange a consultation.

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