Sustainable Neighborhood Solutions Grant Details
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Sustainable Neighborhood Solutions Grant Details
Please review the Sustainable Neighborhood Solutions Overview page for basic information about the SNS grant. Additional detailed information about program criteria and expectations appears below.
Application and Funding Schedule
The 2022 application and funding schedule will be posted on this page in early 2022.
Please review the detailed guidelines carefully prior to submitting your application. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for funding. If you have any questions, please call 303-651-8637 or email Wayne Tomac.
Sustainability ensures systems interact to empower all residents to meet their needs and fulfill wants without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. Holistic approaches recognize the interconnections between these systems and improves multiple categories simultaneously.
Longmont’s Sustainability Vision
An engaged community that promotes environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social equity to create a sustainable and thriving future for all.
The City of Longmont adopted a Sustainability Plan in 2016 that established objectives and targets to drive the City toward greater sustainability in support of the Envision Longmont principles. The City recognizes that neighborhoods and residents are essential partners in achieving this vision.
Sustainability Plan Topic Areas
The purpose of the Sustainability Plan is to clearly articulate Longmont’s sustainability vision and objectives into meaningful targets and actionable strategies. These objectives and targets have been organized around ten inter-related sustainability topic areas, referred to as "categories" or "systems" in the SNS grant application. The SNS Program includes four additional categories relevant to neighborhoods and generally acknowledged by the Envision Longmont comprehensive plan; Education, Health, Safety, and Self-Sufficiency/Governance.
2021 Changes and Clarifications
- The Workshops and Activities project types have been consolidated into one project type, leaving three possible project types in 2021; Workshops & Activities, Programs & Resources, and Improvement Projects.
- Funding eligibility for Workshops & Activities and Improvement Projects have been reduced.
- Applications should be “shovel ready” projects with a final budget and all necessary supporting information included to proceed immediately after approval, including price documentation and bids/price comparison sheets for hired labor or expenditures exceeding $1,000.
- Project applications must further an identified sustainability category to qualify for funding. More holistic approaches to sustainability are encouraged that substantially integrate benefits to multiple sustainability categories simultaneously.
- Your neighborhood may apply for more than one grant each year, but previous projects must be complete before a new application will be accepted.
- Communities are expected to complete projects within three months of receiving notification their application was approved. Projects requiring more time due to the nature of the project or delayed by uncontrollable barriers may request an extension.
SNS Committee Feedback Lessons
- The community should make a significant contribution to the project.
- Justify the budget carefully, don’t guess. Include bids/price comparisons if applicable and explain costs in the project description. All projects including hired labor or purchases over $1,000 should include three bids/price comparisons.
- Projects requesting a holistic funding bonus must clearly justify why each category is substantively improved in a unique way (the bonus is rarely approved).
- Provide detail, but be succinct and clear in your application.
Future Planning
The Sustainable Neighborhood Solutions (SNS) Program will continue to roll out over the next few years, increasingly embracing community groups as active partners in catalyzing a more sustainable and resilient city in collaboration with government policy, non-profit advocacy, and business contributions. Next steps include:
- A more robust grant program and project library, including resource toolboxes, increased funding, projects not requiring funding, and recognition for neighborhood project/training achievements
- An enhanced capacity building training and certification program through the existing Neighborhood Leadership Series (NLS)
- Community assessment tools and resources that support neighborhood evaluation and project identification
The SNS grant is a partnership between the City of Longmont and the Longmont Community Foundation with funding awarded through the Neighborhood Impact Fund. Boulder County provided significant funding to initiate the grant program.
In 2020 and 2021 a portion of the funds will be restricted to projects that specifically further an environmental sustainability goal (see details under Sustainability Categories).
Active community group status: Community groups must be registered with a representative in attendance at two or more NGLA meetings in the calendar year or previous year for SNS grant applications before March.
- Homeowners Association’s may apply through the registered community group in their neighborhood.
COVID Affected Communities: Community groups (formal or informal) not registered with NGLA, but in a designated COVID-19 recovery “hot zone,” may apply for funding for ‘Workshops & Activities’ if pre-approved by City Staff and fulfilling the criteria below.
- The community demonstrates an interest in organizing a formal community group and registering with NGLA.
- The community demonstrates leadership capacity to plan, manage, and implement a SNS project.
Additional community group types may be added in future funding cycles.
Funding Limitations
- Funding requests must be appropriate to the scale of the project and clearly justified by the project description and submitted budget.
- Neighborhood size does not affect funding eligibility.
- Funding is competitive and no group is guaranteed funds, which are awarded by the SNS committee based on the viability and merits of the project application. The committee may deny funding, or approve a reduced amount, at their sole discretion.
- No funds will be awarded after all available funds have been awarded for the calendar year. Communities are encouraged to apply as early as possible in the calendar year to ensure fund availability.
Project Type Descriptions
Workshops and Activities, $500
One-time community events or actions that collectively educate community members or otherwise further a stated sustainability goal within the neighborhood.
- Workshops are typically two hours or less, may feature an expert guest speaker, and should encourage next steps to implement the knowledge gained, either on an individual or community basis.
- Activities are single events, may implement lessons learned in a previous workshop, and may create small-scale specific benefits for targeted populations of need in the community, such as seniors, youth, or the homeless.
- Examples: A presentation on the value of pollinators and their habitats, how to reduce home energy use, using rain barrels to capture and conserve water, or the benefits of composting. A neighborhood team to install LED bulbs in neighbors’ homes with information on the benefits, setting up rain barrels for seniors in the community, a live demonstration on how to compost in your backyard.
- Funding examples: Purchase of materials and supplies, outreach materials, food and drinks, space rental, or an expert speaker fee.
Programs and Resources, $5,000
Programs and resources create an ongoing approach to sustainability that results in ongoing positive impacts. This may include developing educational materials or campaigns, infrastructure for community organized support, or development of sustainability-based neighborhood clubs.
- Examples: Developing a neighborhood sustainability plan, Creating sustainability guides to installing rain barrels, pollinator gardens, or Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) standards, establishing a shared composting agreement for multiple adjacent seniors to split costs of curbside pickup, or creating a youth sustainability club.
- Funding examples: Purchase of materials and supplies, outreach materials, hiring an expert or design professional.
Improvement Projects, $7,000
Creating a lasting improvement in the neighborhood. Projects should have a clear maintenance plan and cannot be for general maintenance, but can be for replacement. Projects will create visual and usually usable improvements in the community.
Note that projects hiring professional labor or including purchases exceeding $1,000 must submit bids/price comparisons (these should be submitted with the application but do not require the City to approve the selection if approved by the SNS committee).
- Examples: Building a community garden or community pollinator garden, Install solar panels to support electricity needs in a community space, place rain barrel infrastructure in a community garden, Install a new crosswalk or other pedestrian or bicycle safety improvements.
- Funding Examples: Purchase of materials and supplies, outreach, hiring a contractor or vendor.
Community Contribution
There are four types of acceptable contributions that can be used individually or in combination to fulfill this requirement. The applicant must be prepared to justify that each element, in the amount proposed, is required to complete the proposed project. Funding from another City source, or department, cannot be counted as a community contribution.
- Volunteer Labor: The community may fulfill this requirement by contributing community member labor toward the planning or implementation of the project (planning/management hours should generally not exceed 25% of the budget or 25 hours). Resident labor hours are valued at $20.00 per hour in the budget.
- Donated Professional Services: Professionals who donate services relevant to completing the project, but do not receive funding to work on the project, should be valued at an appropriate hourly rate for that service.
- Donated Materials or Supplies: Neighborhood groups may seek material contributions from local businesses to decrease project costs and may count donated items as a contribution at the value of the donation.
- Financial Contributions: Monetary donations by HOA boards, community members, or raised through fundraising activities. General financial contributions from local businesses may be acceptable.
Sustainability Categories
Projects must improve one or more of the following categories within the neighborhood. No project can improve one category while diminishing another, or create a null benefit. For example, replacing turf grass with a pollinator habitat of non-native water intensive tropical plants. This project may improve the natural environment, but also uses more water and would not be acceptable.
Holistic Funding Bonus
A holistic project would create a unique benefit in each of the sustainability categories simultaneously. That would be a remarkable project, but a project that clearly demonstrates unique benefits, in two or more sustainability categories, may qualify for a holistic bonus and increased funding eligibility. A project that creates a single benefit that can be classified in two or more different categories does not qualify for the bonus.
- Example: A water conserving turf transition to native plants may be justified in the natural environment or water categories depending on the primary motivation, but it would not qualify for the holistic bonus because the water conservation benefit is the same in either category. However, if the project also incorporated an educational component to inform the community about the value of individual native plant species to water conservation or pollinators, and encourage individual replication, it would create a second unique benefit in the education category and thus qualify for a holistic bonus.
PLANET / Environmental Stewardship
Category | City Objective | City Programs & Opportunities |
---|---|---|
Air Quality | Improve air quality to protect public and environmental health. |
Increase access to air quality information and develop soklutions to improve both indoor and outdoor air.
|
Buildings & Infrastructure | Adopt policies, programs, and design guidelines for resilient and efficient buildings and community infrastructure to enhance quality of life, reduce costs and complement the natural environment. |
Develop resilient and sustainable designs that improve human health and well-being.
|
Energy | Increase energy efficiency and expand the use of renewable energy technologies to improve environmental quality, provide a resilient energy supply, and realize related economic benefits. |
Develop and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and policies.
|
Natural Environment | Minimize the negative effects of development and human activities on natural systems by identifying, protecting, enhancing, and restoring critical environmental resources at all scales. |
Create land management systems that connect to nature and increase ecosystem health.
|
Waste | Increase opportunities for waste diversion, education, and reuse to reduce environmental impacts. |
Increase waste diversion and reduction through waste management planning.
|
Water | Preserve the natural environment in our watershed and provide a reliable, high quality water supply that protects public health. |
Improve water supply management and watershed quality and preservation.
|
PEOPLE / Social Equity
Category | City Objective | City Programs & Opportunities |
---|---|---|
Community Cohesion & Resilience | A vibrant community where all residents have equitable access to the opportunities needed to thrive, while preserving and enhancing natural, cultural and financial resources. |
Increase equitable community inclusion, access, and engagement and develop neighborhood-based, resident-driven action.
|
Education | Not included in the Sustainability Plan |
Creates opportunities for people of all ages to increase knowledge and access opportunities for advancement.
|
Food System | Support a locally-based, environmentally responsible and healthy food system that is available to all residents. |
Increase food security and resiliency, and develop land stewardship through agriculture.
|
Health | Not included in the Sustainability Plan |
The health of residents is important to individual and community well-being.
|
Safety | Not included in the Sustainability Plan |
Safe environments promote opportunities, create trust, and improve quality of life.
|
Transportation | Invest in an efficient transportation system that enhances mobility, equitably supports multiple modes of transportation, reduces environmental impacts, and supports a healthier community. |
Develop affordable, reliable, and accessible multi-modal transportation.
|
PROSPERITY / Economic Vitality
Category | City Objective | City Programs & Opportunities |
---|---|---|
Economic Vitality | Support a diverse economy that is aligned with social and environmental goals of providing local jobs, livable wages, and encouraging innovative and green businesses and business practices. |
Create a diversified, economically secure economy that promotes sustainable business practices.
|
Self-Sufficiency & Governance | Not included in the Sustainability Plan |
The ability of residents and neighbors to take care of themselves, provide for their needs, and play a role in decisions that affect their lives.
|
Ineligible Projects
The following projects and project characteristics will NOT be considered for SNS funding. Contact staff for clarification or questions.
- Used primarily for regular maintenance or upkeep.
- Retroactive funding requests for work that has already started or been completed.
- Projects that benefit individual property owners and do not provide a community sustainability benefit. Projects may accrue a private benefit as long as a clear neighborhood sustainability benefit is demonstrated, they are inclusive, and appropriate support/owner approval are included.
- Projects may not benefit a single individual, but may benefit a specific target group, such as seniors or youth in the community.
- Requests for salaries or operating expenses.
- Provide money for individuals, organizations or groups for their private use or for uses that do not benefit the neighborhood at large.
- Politically motivated or supportive of specific candidates or political parties
- Significant irrigation system upgrades (these projects should utilize Neighborhood Improvement Program funding due to high expenses).
Create a Project Plan
You are encouraged to outline project goals, details, and timeline using a Project Plan that will guide each step in completing the project. The plan should include as much detail on the following categories as possible and adapt with the project as necessary.
- Identify a project as a community
- Define a Project Manager and Project Team
- Project Manager: Name, phone, email, list responsibilities
- Project Team: Name, phone, email, list individual responsibilities
- Outline the project description and goals
- Include next steps and outcomes if it is intended to be a multi-phase project
- Create a projected Timeline and Tasks for each Project Team member
- Research options, consider tradeoffs of different options, and create a complete budget
- Contact relevant vendors or contractors for feedback and to determine expenses
- Use the budget template to create a budget, or create a more detailed budget of your own
- Use a Request For Proposals to request bids or complete price comparison sheets to ensure you are getting a fair price if labor or individual material purchases will exceed $1,000. This will not be necessary for Workshops and Activities. Submit the bids and a bid sheet with your application to justify the grant request and budget. Submit as much support for your budget as possible.
- Ensure all project expenses are accounted for, incomplete budgets won’t be approved by the committee
- Select the preferred options
- Contact Community and Neighborhood Resources with questions or for support.
- Finalize project details and projected timeline, what are team responsibilities if the project is approved
- Complete the application and submit with the budget, a map (if applicable), and supporting materials
- The Project Plan is likely to evolve as you work through the project and should be updated as necessary
Request for Proposals (if Necessary)
If you need to hire professional labor, you are encouraged to use a Request For Proposals to ensure comparable responses include the following information. Projects exceeding $1,000 in hired professional services or individual material purchases are required to submit three bids or price comparisons with the application to justify the budget allocations (the City does not need to approve a bid, but the SNS committee may provide expectations).
Information to include in your RFP to contractors/vendors
- Objective and contact information
- Include a description of the project and project manager contact information.
- Clearly explain how to respond: Request a bid sheet with all requested information via email, mail, in person, phone, etc.
- Scope of Work
- Detail all elements of the project.
- List specific expectations, such as specific plant species or materials to be used.
- Only clear expectations will be included in the resulting bid, but do not include unnecessary information.
- Timing expectations and flexibility
- Include a timeframe for submitting the bid (ex: due by July 15).
- Indicate preferred project timing, but include flexibility if possible to accommodate busy contractor schedules (consider grant schedule).
- Location and limitations of the site (Physical improvements)
- Describe the specific location of the project, and limitations on site, and provide a map.
- Detail additional expectations not already stated (Physical improvements)
- Contractor should be responsible for securing all required permits and requesting utility locates (do not accept responsibility for these if you don’t have to!).
- Request a detailed bid
- Request clarity on what is and isn’t included from the RFP (Don’t make assumptions)
- Request a bid sheet that breaks out materials and labor, with a preference for a more detailed, itemized bid
- If the grant will pay the contractor directly make this clear
- Grant payment may be delayed versus a direct payment from the community and requires sales tax be removed from the invoice.
Application Questions
You will need to have the following information to complete the application.
1. Community Contact
- Neighborhood name
- Project manager and project team contact information
- A project manager must be selected who will remain the primary contact throughout the project. This should be the person most knowledgeable about the project.
- Identify other project team members: Who will support the project manager, including name, role, and email or phone number.
2. Project Details
- Project type: Workshops and Activities, Programs and Resources, Improvement Projects. See “Project Type” section for more detail.
- Physical improvements must include a description of the plan for ongoing maintenance.
- Project Description and Outcomes: Briefly describe project goals, purpose, outcomes, how it will be completed, and public benefit.
- Statement of Request: Provide a short statement explaining your request (40 words or less).
- Date and time: When do you expect the event/project to take place (Workshops and Activities) or be completed (Programs and Resources, Improvement Projects)?
- Sustainability category: What sustainability category does you project further? Select the most appropriate category that will primarily be improved. See “Project Criteria” section for an explanation of categories.
- Holistic Bonus: If you believe your project will create a unique and substantial benefit in one or more additional categories, identify them below and describe in the Project Description (select all that apply).
- Statement of Request: Provide a brief statement summarizing your request (40 words or less).
- Maintenance: Projects that will result in an outcome that will require maintenance (all Improvement Projects) must describe a long-term maintenance plan or agreement. Describe your plan for ongoing maintenance.
- Is this a stand-alone project or part of a series of interrelated projects? Explain.
- Location (if applicable): Provide the nearest address of where the project will occur. Provide a map of the targeted location or area for all geographic-based projects and Improvement Projects.
- Will the project take place on public or private property? address and property ownership (supplemental materials).
- If Public: Provide contact information of the City staff that approved the use of public space for this purpose.
- If Private: Include a letter from the property owner agreeing to use of the property and to keep it accessible to the community as appropriate.
3. Community Impact
- Who participated in planning the project? Individuals, committee, HOA, community
- Number of community members that participated
- What contribution is the community making to the project? Briefly explain:
- Financial contributions
- Donated professional skills (valued at usual hourly rate)
- Materials/Supplies
- Volunteer time (valued at $20 per hour)
- Other (explain)
- Describe Other Contributions and Commitments: Have any other entities committed to support the project, i.e. City staff hours, other City program funding, a grant from another foundation, neighboring community labor, etc.? Contributions to the project by the City of Longmont cannot be counted as a Community Contribution above, but other external contributions may.
4. Implementation Plan
- What is your outreach plan/methods to engage the community? Such as email, social media, flyers, etc.
- Budget Summary: Describe how much you are requesting in grant funding, how much the community will contribute, and total project expenses. Upload a completed budget form. The budget must balance between Grant request, community Contribution, and other contributions.
- Payment Expectations: Will the full amount be requested as a reimbursement/payment after project completion or is the community requesting a portion of the funds cover upfront costs? (Justify the need for upfront expenses and the community’s inability to temporarily cover those costs.)
- Upload Support Documentation: Provide additional support as appropriate for your project, which may include:
- General: Current photos, Project Plan, Case studies, Vendor/Contractor work samples
- Workshops and Activities: Speaker bio/details, Price Comparisons
- Programs and Resources: RFP sample, Bid Summary and bid sheets from vendors/contractors, Price comparison sheet and examples for large purchases
- Improvement Projects: RFP sample, Bid Summary and bid sheets from vendors/contractors, Price comparison sheet and examples for large purchases
SNS Grant Committee Structure
The SNS committee consist of five voting community members and three non-voting representatives from the City and Longmont Community Foundation. Committee members serve a two-year term, beginning in January and ending in December of the following year. Committee selection will encourage a diversity of thought and relevant experience.
Community members (voting representatives)
- Two representatives from the NGLA
- One representative from the Longmont business community
- One representative from the Sustainability Advisory Board
- One Longmont youth representative
Non-Voting members
- One representative from the Longmont Community Foundation
- One representative from the Division of Community and Neighborhood Resources
- One representative from the Sustainability Program
Payment Detail
If your project is selected for funding, these are your next steps:
- Complete your project within three months
- Create a fun video to celebrate your community’s experience and outcomes (optional, but encouraged).
- Submit the Payment Request, Final Report, and supporting materials as soon as possible after completion of the project.
- Payment Request: Once the project is complete submit a payment request within two weeks. Include all required documentation:
- Final Project Report (must demonstrate completion)
- Reimbursement: Include a proof of payment in the form of a dated itemized receipt or an itemized invoice clearly illustrating the amount paid by the neighborhood
- Direct Payment to a vendor or contractor: Include an itemized, dated invoice
- Submit digital photos of the event or outcome
- A community celebration video (recommended)
- Proof of payment
- Proof of payment is required for all reimbursement requests. Cancelled checks are not an acceptable Proof of Payment, only dated and itemized receipts or invoices that include that amount paid are acceptable.
- Receipts from online purchases and retailers will be accepted with clear inventory of the purchase and date.
- Proof of payment is required for all reimbursement requests. Cancelled checks are not an acceptable Proof of Payment, only dated and itemized receipts or invoices that include that amount paid are acceptable.
- Payment Request: Once the project is complete submit a payment request within two weeks. Include all required documentation:
- Requests will be processed as soon as possible, but will be delayed by improper documentation
- Start planning your next project