Love Your Block CommUNITY Mini-Grant

The Love Your Block CommUNITY Mini-Grant is an initiative launched by the City of Reno in collaboration with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. Now entering its second year, the program continues its mission to empower residents in Ward 1 to undertake projects that revitalize and enhance their local neighborhoods. The program is part of a larger nationwide effort, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Cities of Service, to build capacity for resident-led innovation in urban spaces. It aims to directly address localized issues such as neighborhood decay, illegal dumping, and the lack of climate resilience by engaging the community in tangible, beautification-focused action. The CommUNITY Mini-Grant specifically supports group or community-focused revitalization projects. These can range from transforming vacant lots into green spaces, painting public murals, or organizing large-scale clean-ups. The projects must contribute to the betterment of the entire neighborhood, offering visible improvements to outdoor public or private spaces and encouraging local engagement through volunteer participation. While the current round excludes individual home beautification projects, those will be eligible in a separate funding opportunity launching in May on a rolling basis. To qualify, applicants must either reside or operate within Ward 1 of the City of Reno. Eligible applicants include residents over 18, community groups, nonprofits, religious organizations, and local businesses. Renters are welcome to apply as long as they secure permission from the property owner. A critical requirement is that projects must involve residents in hands-on revitalization efforts and be limited to exterior or outdoor improvements. All proposed initiatives must be executable within four weeks and completed by August 31, 2026. The funding for each project must fall between $500 and $5,000. However, grant recipients will not receive direct funds; instead, the City of Reno will purchase or obtain all required supplies on behalf of the grantees. Any deviations from this standard process will be handled at the City's discretion. The City also requires that recipients provide final documentation, including photos and volunteer statistics, and comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Applications for the CommUNITY Mini-Grant are accepted from February 13, 2026, through March 31, 2026. Paper applications are available upon request and may be submitted to the City Clerk's Office. For applicants requiring support, assistance is offered via scheduled office hours hosted by Dayna Torrecillas, the program contact. These sessions are held virtually and in-person throughout February and March. Further updates and access to required application tools and forms are available on the City of Reno’s official Love Your Block webpage. While the program is not recurring in the traditional sense, it does operate in multiple rounds throughout the year, with Round One focused on neighborhood-wide projects and a separate Round Two intended for individual home beautification grants. Future rounds and timelines will be announced by the City. Community members can also engage through volunteering and donating supplies, further extending the program’s impact beyond just grant recipients.

Ensure project emphasizes public benefit and volunteer participation; avoid proposals requiring skilled labor.