Seattle Department of Neighborhoods announces changes to Neighborhood Matching Fund
Improvements make process simpler and easier to receive funding for community projects
First deadline coming up in January

SEATTLE – In its continuing efforts to make the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) more accessible and simpler for residents, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has made key improvements to this nationally recognized program. The Neighborhood Matching Fund Program provides cash awards to community organizations for neighborhood-based projects, and these changes not only make the structure and process easier, but reflect the changing economy. The changes take effect now for applications requesting 2010 funds.

Highlights of the changes include new electronic application forms, clearer guidelines, increased award amounts, and technical assistance workshops. The NMF website has also been revamped to make it easier to navigate and apply for the four funding categories: Large Projects Fund, Small and Simple Fund, Small Sparks Fund and Tree Fund.

Here is a more complete overview of the changes:

NMF Guidelines:
• NMF guidelines are now clearer and easier to navigate. In fact, all four funds are covered under the same document.
• The value of volunteer time has increased to $20 per hour keeping up with Independent Sector research on average volunteer time value.

Fund Changes:
• The Outreach Fund is now combined with the Small Sparks Fund, which will continue to provide support for community building projects with small funding needs, along with new flexible guidelines.

Award Amount:
• To reflect rising costs, fund request limits have increased to up to $1000 for the Small Sparks Fund and up to $20,000 for the Small and Simple Fund.

Application Forms:
• The forms are designed to be easier to use, along with simplified questions, fill-in electronic formatting, and simpler work plan and budget forms.
• Signatures documenting community match pledges are no longer required for the application.

Technical Assistance and Website:
• To increase outreach and assistance, NMF staff will hold one to two technical assistance workshops every month around the city. There are two workshops in December and three occurring in January.
• The website has been revamped to ease navigation and provide clearer information with the inclusion of a “Frequently Asked Questions” section. It also has enhanced features and links to other funding opportunities.

The deadline for Small and Simple Projects Fund is January 11, 2010 (next deadline in July) and the Large Projects Fund Letter of Intent is due February 8, 2010. For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods works to bring government closer to our residents through civic engagement, community empowerment and involvement by all residents for the betterment of their community.

You want a diverse neighborhood, Angie's is what it means to have diversity. You need establishments where people of differing financial and ethnic backgrounds can congregate comfortably. If you think C City could one day become more like Fremont, please move to Fremont.

I have no idea what the community could do to help Angie's and I highly doubt anyone really wants to; however, there are some folks in C City like myself that would be willing to do what they can.

Sound transit still owns a whole bunch of strangely shaped properties on MLK.

Eventually those properties will be developed: if recent history is any guide, probably to the cheapest use for the parcels, like drive-thru Starbucks and strip malls. These add nothing to the neighborhood, and only serve to increase drive-by traffic. The other usual option is "green spaces" that no one will use and that add no actual beauty to the community.

I think there's a huge unrealized opportunity to use those properties in some new, different, visionary way, one that actually makes the neighborhood better.

What would MLK look like if a new path was taken, and those properties were developed in ways that actually improved the neighborhood?

What if we invited some architecture and planning students to come up with a new vision for those parcels and the future of MLK? Something based on the best of what's there now (including the cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit), and MLKs future as a transit-oriented street, combined with the best new possibilities for small lot development?

What could Sound Transit help MLK become instead of a strip of parking lots and dying shrubs?

Thoughts?

What shall I do? I've emailed sdot a month ago and received no response and I just recently saw a hard copy of the neighbourhood plan which appeared to suggest that a curb along my street was intended. It seems odd to have a gravel curb in an L2-3 residential zone with zoned parking.

Anyone with experience getting their street curbed and/or can advise me as to the best course of action?

Merci beaucoup, etc.

But I wanted to put it out there - to discuss, see if there was any interest, or more importantly, any feasibility.

I imagine the slip-n-slide to be so long that it borders on the ridiculous. Perhaps starting at the top of the Columbia Park zooming its way down past the Columbia Plaza, past the Library (basically following a similar course of the foot path).

Things that need to be addressed are:

Location: Already suggested, but any other ideas?
Supplies: suggestions?
Water: maybe get the church to throw a hose our way?
Interest: Based on how awesome this idea is, I dont think we will be lacking in this category.
Date & Time: TBD

Wha do you think?

Their mission is removal of chain-link fence in the interest of neighborhood aesthetics. If someone is interested in doing something like this in our 'hood, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand.

Remember a few years ago when we had that city wide put your stuff out on the curb for other people to dig through? That was a load of fun, but I believe it stopped because it was too much for the city to deal with. Well, what if we did just a neighborhood one, the first Sunday of the month, perhaps May - Oct?

I was thinking I could make special signs that say "columbia city free stuff sunday" that participants could put out, and we could have a website. Or perhaps you have stuff that you don't want to give away for free, than you could have a garage sale.
I know that we can (and do) already do this on our own, but it would be kinda neat to have a day where a bunch of us do it together. Then you could have brunch at your favorite joint, grab your wagon, and ramble through the 'hood picking up treasures - it would be a neat way to meet your neighbors.

The one criticism I thought of would be that after Sunday was over and if there still was stuff out laying around, it could become an eyesore. So perhaps the agreement would be that if it doesn't disappear on Sunday, you are responsible for bringing it back inside for the next Sunday, or recycling it, or posting it on craigslist, or something like that.

So I was wondering - what do you think of this idea?
And would anyone be interested in organizing this with me, if there's no major law or code being broken or anything?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Post here or email me at karinbolstad (at) hotmail.com
Karin Bolstad
(owner of the giant irish wolfhound Oskar - you probably have seen us out and about…)

This news (KING5, P-I) is making the rounds through neighborhood email groups. Someone has spray-painted cars with racial slurs and a Star of David.

Several years ago, my wife and I lived in a town where similar attacks happened. Maybe our community was inspired by the spirit of this powerful legend, but their very real response has become something of a legend in itself.

From the news report, immediate neighbors have apparently stepped up to demonstrate their solidarity.

Is there a role for the wider community? What do you think it should be?

Scott, 329-5912