Stamford's Community Micro-Grant Program Recipients Announced

Information via city of Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — This year, the Mayor’s Office, in partnership with Stamford's Community Development Office, launched the Community Micro-Grant Program.

This initiative, formerly known as the Neighborhood Grant Program, awards small grants for community-specific projects aimed at improving the quality of life across Stamford’s neighborhoods. The program had $75,000 available to invest and grants were awarded for $1,000 and up to $10,000.

Funds were made available to help a range of neighborhood groups – from grassroots initiatives to well-established associations – and to support the activities and projects important to these organizations.

"I want to thank the numerous applicants who applied for the Community Micro-Grant Program," said Mayor Caroline Simmons in a news release. "The number of applications received demonstrates the passion and ideas that so many residents have for our city. I look forward to visiting many of these projects in the coming months and working with these community partners to continue implementing initiatives that make an impact and improve quality of life for Stamford residents."

Projects that met the following criteria were prioritized for this grant cycle: activation of an underutilized public space (ex. program series, block party, and community gardens), long-lasting beautification efforts (ex. murals, perennial gardens, planters, and tree plantings), public improvements and enhancements (ex. benches, picnic tables, trash cans, paths, safety features, and lighting), and wayfinding and place-making (i.e. artistic wayfinding on sidewalks, and neighborhood branding on banners).

The following groups were awarded a Community Micro-Grant:

• Cove Neighborhood Association
• Fairgate Farm, Inc.
• Ferguson Library
• Friends of Belltown
• Glenbrook Neighborhood Association
• Hoops for All
• Hubbard Heights Association
• Police Athletic League
• Pollinator Pathways
• Project Music
• Saw Mill Association
• Shippan Point Garden Club
• Stamford Public Education Foundation
• Springdale Neighborhood Association
• Stamford Arts Association
• RiseUp Arts
• Stamford Senior Center
• Sylvan Knoll
• Take Back Carwin Park.

Applicants were encouraged to be a Stamford-based nonprofit, charitable organization, or an organization that did not have 501c3 entities.

Applicants who did not have legal nonprofit status had to identify fiscal agents (local 501c3 organization or City Department) willing to be responsible for handling grant funds on their behalf, before applying. Applicants had to match grant funds with their own funds, or in-kind products, services and/or labor.