Good Neighbor Grant

The Good Neighbor Grant for Environmental & Beautification Placemaking Initiatives is a competitive funding opportunity offered by the James City County Clean County Commission (CCC) in Virginia. As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the CCC promotes sustainable waste management, environmental enhancement, and placemaking through grassroots community engagement. The grant program aims to support neighborhood groups and homeowner associations in their efforts to beautify and improve communal spaces while fostering environmental stewardship. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the grant offers six awards of $500 each, issued on a reimbursable basis—50% disbursed at the beginning of the project and 50% upon submission of a completion report. Projects must demonstrate alignment with the grant’s goals of enhancing community environments, improving sustainability, and encouraging local participation. All applicants are required to carry out a litter cleanup initiative as part of their project, with necessary supplies such as gloves, safety vests, and litter grabbers available by request. In addition to reporting project outcomes, grantees must document their cleanup results and submit visual evidence in the form of before-and-after photos. Qualifying projects must focus on sustainable and communal landscaping or similar initiatives that reduce environmental impact while enhancing common areas. Suitable project types include native plant landscaping, community gardens, trail improvements, erosion control, composting systems, energy-saving infrastructure, and beautification of recreational or entryway spaces. All plantings must utilize native plant species, with free assistance available through the James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners program. Applicants can find approved plant species in the Native Plants for Southeast Virginia guide linked through the grant instructions. To be considered, applicants must submit a completed grant packet by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025. The packet includes an application form, proposed project budget, before photos, and a letter of intent if applicable. Applications should be submitted via email or mail to the Sustainability Coordinator. Neighborhood associations must have governing officials or committee members sign the application. If applying from a neighborhood without an association, signatures from two residents and at least three-fourths of property owners adjacent to the project site must be included. Projects are selected based on their community benefit, level of involvement, sustainability measures, and effectiveness in minimizing environmental impacts such as runoff. Selected applicants will be notified in October and receive the initial payment. By April 30, 2026, a detailed Project Completion Report must be submitted to receive the final reimbursement. This includes financial documentation, volunteer logs, cleanup metrics, and visual proof of the project’s completion. Records of support from volunteers and partners must be retained by the neighborhood organization for five years. Interested applicants are encouraged to request a preliminary review of their application by contacting the Sustainability Coordinator. For further assistance or submission, applicants can reach out via phone at 757-259-5375 or by email at sustainabilitycoordinator@jamescitycountyva.gov. All documentation must be submitted according to the guidelines to qualify for final payment and recognition under the grant program.

Applicants may request a preliminary review before submission. Use native plants and seek assistance from Master Gardeners Helpdesk.