Hartford Improvement Projects Get $224K In Grant Funding

Press release from the City of Hartford:

HARTFORD, CT — The City of Hartford and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving announced recently this year’s Love Your Block (LYB) grant recipients, which are awarded to projects proposed by community members to beautify Hartford neighborhoods.

This latest round of grants commits more than $224,000, funding 26 projects in 12 different neighborhoods.

This year, the program offers LYB Resident Grants and LYB Community Grants.

The LYB Resident Grant continues the work of the original LYB program, supporting resident-led projects with up to $2,500.

Resident groups are also able to team up with nonprofit organizations for the LYB Community Grant.

In total, 11 community grants and 15 resident grants were awarded.

Grant applications were accepted from Feb. 14 to April 7 and ideas were reviewed by a panel of Hartford residents.

In December 2022, the foundation announced it will invest some $300,000 over the next three years to support the resident engagement components of Love Your Block, with the aim of increasing community connectedness.

“We are thrilled to partner with residents and community-based organizations to support more than two dozen neighborhood-led projects, from improvements to Heaven Skate Park, to pollinator gardens in Frog Hollow, to converting 10 vacant lots across the City into community farms,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.

“The Hartford Foundation continues to be inspired by the dedication and creativity of Hartford residents and community organizations that have participated in the Love Your Block program,” said Hartford Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer 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 any ownership of these neighborhoods.”

“The growth of the Love Your Block program and the Love Hartford Initiative overall are constant reminders that the people of Hartford, all of us who live here, work here, and play here, are the solution,” added Janice Castle, Hartford's director of community engagement.

"Whether we are combating litter, or blight, or vacant/abandoned lots, we can speak up and advocate on behalf of our city. Together we can continue our work to revive, reenergize and show pride in our community.”

For a full list of the grant recipients, click on this link.

This press release was produced by the City of Hartford. The views expressed here are the author’s own.