Orange County, Fla.--which includes Orlando--has an extensive program of grant awards designed to improve neighborhoods and reduce crime. Programs administered by the county Neighborhood Services Division focus on community action with grants allocated for local beautification, public safety and crime prevention awareness. Neighborhood and voluntary groups are given priority though larger nonprofit organizations can participate as partners. Grants are awarded year-round in amounts ranging from under $1,000 to $25,000.
ReNEW Neighborhood Improvement Grants
ReNEW Grants are awarded in several different categories, all of which reflect the local emphasis of the name: Residents & Neighborhoods Empowered to Win. ReNEW Neighborhood Improvement Grants are awarded in amounts of $1,000 to $10,000 for projects with a total cost of $20,000 or less. Community groups must raise a matching fund contribution that ranges from 5 percent to 50 percent, depending upon the size of the project.
Eligible projects must be located on a major thoroughfare and can include, signage, some landscaping, repairs to existing irrigation systems, wall pressure washing and painting, entranceway improvements, ground Lighting, speed humps and traffic islands.
ReNEW Grant Programs
Orange County Neighborhood
Services Division
P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32802
407-836-2917
orangecountyfl.net
ReNEW Neighborhood Wall Repair Grants
Grants of 100 percent, up to a total of $20,000 are available to repair structural damage to existing neighborhood subdivision walls. Grants allow repair rather than replacement or redesign, so walls can only be returned to their original condition. Pressure cleaning and repainting are not eligible.
ReNEW Grant Programs
Orange County Neighborhood
Services Division
P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32802
407-836-2917
orangecountyfl.net
ReNEW Nonprofit Housing Repair Grants
Nonprofit and faith-based organizations can apply for grants up to $20,000 for projects in unincorporated Orange County. The grants, aimed at neighborhoods facing physical decline, is for minor repairs to owner-occupied homes. Local, grassroots organizations can apply for material-only grants of up to $1,000. The ReNew program also offers larger funding grants, of $5,000 to $20,000, for organizations able to undertake repairs to five to 30 private, owner-occupied homes.
ReNEW Grant Programs
Orange County Neighborhood
Services Division
P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32802
407-836-2917
orangecountyfl.net
ReNew Neighborhood Mini Grants
Neighborhood groups that can demonstrate big impacts from small projects can apply for mini grants of up to $1,000 to cover such projects as landscaping, wall painting and pressure cleaning, and community signage. Applications for the mini grants are available at workshops held at public libraries and meeting rooms around Orange County during the year. In neighborhoods where no organized community groups exists, groups of three to five residents can apply.
ReNEW Grant Programs
Orange County Neighborhood
Services Division
P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32802
407-836-2917
orangecountyfl.net
ReNEW Community Design Assistance Refunds
Community Design Assistance Refunds (CDAR) of up to $5,000, to improve facades and street-facing appearance, are targeted at specific community corridors. These grants, for commercial properties, can be used to improve signage, paint, install or add awnings, landscape buffers and improve fencing.
Orange County Neighborhood Services Division
450 E. South St., Suite 332
Orlando, FL 32802
407-836-5606
orangecountyfl.net
Crime Prevention Grants
The Crime Prevention Fund is made up of fines assessed against convicted criminals. Grants from this fund go to projects in the county's Safe Neighborhood Program designed to improve safety and security in homes, businesses and schools. Grant applications, from any organized neighborhood group, can be submitted at any time, year-round. Nonprofit organizations operating in the county are also eligible but they must be partnered with a neighborhood group.
Crime Prevention Grants
Orange County Neighborhood Services Division
450 E. South St., 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32802-1393
407-836-5606
orangecountyfl.net
Tags: Orange County, Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Services Division, Services Division, Orange County Neighborhood
