Five community development corporations to share $125,000 for new neighborhood marketing efforts.
CLEVELAND, OH – Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has completed the third installment of its Neighborhood Solutions Award funding cycle. The Neighborhood Solutions Award is focused on a program or project that is ready to launch but in need of additional financial resources. This year, Cleveland community development corporations (CDCs) were instructed to focus on neighborhood marketing and branding issues. All applicants were encouraged to create efforts that would sustain a positive identity for their neighborhood.
Joel Ratner, President & CEO of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, stated “we want all of our Cleveland neighborhoods to have a strong and recognizable identity, not just with city residents, but also within the entire region. With these grant dollars, we can assist our CDC partners with developing and sustaining successful marketing efforts that will attract new residents, visitors, businesses, and investment into their neighborhoods.”
A total of 18 proposals for the Neighborhood Solutions Award were submitted. The process was highly competitive and involved a thorough review of all proposals. Eleven finalist organizations presented their proposed programs and projects to a panel of distinguished funders and local marketing professionals. Panelists thoughtfully evaluated the finalist presentations using the criteria as stated in the Request for Proposals (RFP) that was issued in July. Throughout the presentations, each CDC addressed how its neighborhood solution featured innovation, impact, collaboration, leadership and replicability.
The following five programs or projects were chosen as the 2015 Neighborhood Solutions Award Grantees:
Kamm’s Corners Development Corp. & Bellaire Puritas Development Corp. will receive $35,000 to develop the One West Park brand. Coinciding with a probable merger of these two organizations, the newly created CDC will implement a comprehensive branding plan for the West Park neighborhood and the CDC.
Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization will receive $25,000 for its Gordon Square Wayfinding Initiative. Along with partners from Ohio Department of Transportation, Metroparks and Vintage Development, the CDC will create a pilot wayfinding and signage program for the Gordon Square neighborhood.
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation will receive $25,000 for the #WhatsYourOldBrooklyn marketing initiative. The CDC will host specially designed events to allow potential residents to experience the neighborhood and will engage social media ambassadors to sustain online dialogue and promotions about Old Brooklyn.
Famicos Foundation will receive $22,500 for the Gold Coast Entertainment Series. Capitalizing on the robust Sunday worshipping crowd, the CDC is planning a special summertime series to keep visitors in the neighborhood after church. Vendor markets, gospel brunches and various entertainment offerings will take place on East 105
Burten, Bell, Carr Development will receive $17,500 for its BBC Community Radio project. This CDC has been working for two years on this project and received its license to broadcast earlier this year. Their new radio station will serve as an important community outreach tool to reach existing and potential residents and visitors.
Each of the winning CDCs will promptly receive these funds from Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and work will commence immediately. The CDCs will also receive technical assistance throughout the grant period from Neighborhood Progress staff. It is anticipated that each program or project will be active within 12 months.
For more than 25 years, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has been Cleveland’s leading community development funding intermediary, focused on investing in the revitalization of city neighborhoods. It is a private, nonprofit organization that works closely with the City of Cleveland, civic partners, foundations and corporations. Its mission is to foster communities of choice and opportunity throughout Cleveland.
In collaboration with its many public, private and non-profit partners, Neighborhood Progress generates big ideas, advocates for them, funds them and promotes them.