Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Chief Sustainability Officer Nathaly Agosto Filión will announce the launch of the City of Newark Love Your Block Mini-Grants Program, an initiative designed to connect residents with City departments and community organizations to implement hyper-local neighborhood beautification and community-building projects, at a press conference on Thursday, February 14, at 11am, at Newark Public Library Clinton Branch, located at 739 Bergen Street.

The overall goal of the Love Your Block Mini-Grants Program is to prevent or eliminate property blight and revitalize city neighborhoods one block at a time. For its 2019 inaugural grant-making year, the City of Newark is offering mini-grants and resources to support the efforts of citizen groups and local nonprofits working to prevent or eliminate property blight in the South Ward. Eligible activities include community clean-ups, home repairs to improve curb appeal, and transform lots and open spaces.

“The Love Your Block program is an exciting addition to the toolkit of strategies we are using to revitalize neighborhoods that are in great need. With increased programming support and mini-grants, we can help empower residents to carry out their own vision for having cleaner, safer streets and a better quality of life,” Mayor Baraka said.

Mayor Baraka sees the Love Your Block program as a natural extension of his Model Neighborhood Initiative (MNI), an effort to coordinate the human and financial resources of government agencies, nonprofits, residents, and other local stakeholders to transform Newark neighborhoods into models of community prosperity.

“Empowering residents is the best way a city can revitalize and beautify blocks to urbanize a neighborhood. We’re grateful to have won this award from Cities of Service to continue implementing Mayor Baraka’s vision,” said Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing Development Joseph Palmieri.

For Ms. Agosto Filión, the Love Your Block program helps Newark accelerate progress towards the Sustainability Action Plan 2020 goals. “The Sustainability Action Plan 2020 calls for litter reduction, improved access to parks and gardens, enforcement of environmental regulations, energy cost savings, and much more. I’m thrilled the Office of Sustainability is offering the Love Your Block program, and eager to see resident applications which can help us keep carrying out the Mayor’s citywide sustainability agenda,” she said.

The Mini-Grants application is currently open, and applicants can apply online, in person, or via mail. For more information, please visit www.newarknj.gov/loveyourblock, or attend an in-person Information Session at the Clinton Branch of the Newark Public Library.

The Love Your Block program is made possible by the support of Cities of Service, an independent nonprofit organization that helps mayors and city leaders tap the knowledge, creativity, and service of citizens to solve public problems and create vibrant cities. The City of Newark was awarded $25,000 as well as two AmeriCorps VISTA members who will serve to more effectively bridge efforts across City Hall and neighborhoods to build capacity and raise awareness. Cities of Service will provide expert technical assistance to winning cities for two years. Using the Cities of Service Love Your Block blueprint, city leaders will engage citizen volunteers and local nonprofits in co-creating solutions to urban blight.

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