City of Liberty Neighborhood Enhancement Grants

The Neighborhood Enhancement Grant Program, created by the Liberty City Council, is designed to help residents invest in lasting improvements within their own neighborhoods. With a clear focus on maintaining Liberty’s appeal and ensuring the vibrancy of its neighborhoods, this program encourages community-driven projects that support collective wellbeing. The city has allocated $10,000 in the 2025 budget for this initiative, demonstrating a financial commitment to neighborhood revitalization and active community involvement. This is a matching grant program, which means applicants must provide 25 percent of the total project cost, either in cash or through in-kind contributions such as labor, materials, or donated services. The city reimburses up to 75 percent of the total project costs, with grant awards ranging from $500 to $10,000. The program is open only to formal neighborhood or homeowners’ associations registered with the City of Liberty. While these organizations do not need to be incorporated or have tax-exempt status, they must have an elected board, adopted bylaws, and a defined membership structure. Registration with the city involves submitting the organization's bylaws and officer list; no registration fee is required. Eligible projects under this grant must be permanent improvements that benefit the entire neighborhood and fall within the city’s right-of-way. Examples include landscaping, planting street trees, replacing sidewalks, or installing neighborhood signage such as historic markers or Neighborhood Watch signs. All project proposals must be approved either by the association’s board or through a majority vote of residents present at a designated neighborhood meeting. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025, and work cannot commence prior to grant approval, or the project will be deemed ineligible for funding. The application process is rolling and will remain open until all funds are distributed or until the deadline of Friday, November 28, 2025. Proposals are reviewed by the City’s Preservation and Development Commission (PDC), which evaluates applications based on funding availability, the overall benefit to the community, organizational viability, and alignment with the City Council’s goals. Applicants may apply online, via mail, or in person at Liberty City Hall. All submissions must include a signed application form. For more information or assistance with forming an eligible neighborhood organization, applicants are encouraged to contact Jeanine Thill, the Community Development Manager for the City of Liberty. She can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 816.439.4537. The City also offers guidance to help new neighborhood associations formalize and register their organizations, ensuring broader access to this funding opportunity.