Strategic Neighborhood Grant Funds

The Strategic Neighborhood Grant Funds program is administered by the City of Bowling Green through its Neighborhood and Community Services Department, specifically the Community Engagement Division for Neighbors and New Americans. The program has evolved over time, originally launched in 1999 as the Select Neighborhood Action Program and later known as the Flexible Neighborhood Grant before being renamed to better reflect its strategic focus. The initiative is designed to support grassroots, neighborhood-led efforts that strengthen community cohesion, improve safety, and enhance the overall quality of life within the incorporated city limits of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The primary purpose of the grant is to fund projects that are conceived and implemented by residents or neighborhood organizations to address local priorities. Eligible projects include neighborhood identity and branding efforts, beautification initiatives, safety enhancements, placemaking projects, and events that benefit residents. The program also supports repairs to existing neighborhood amenities and installation of historical markers or signage. However, funding is restricted from use on routine maintenance, projects that generate ongoing operational costs, private business ventures, or initiatives that primarily benefit a single individual or property. Equipment purchases, subscription services, and political activities are also explicitly excluded. Funding is structured to provide up to 6000 dollars per project, with a total annual allocation of 60000 dollars divided equally between two cycles: spring and fall. Each cycle offers 30000 dollars in available funding. Grants are awarded on a reimbursement basis, meaning recipients must initially cover project expenses and later submit documentation for reimbursement. In some cases, the City may directly pay vendors. If project costs exceed the awarded amount, applicants are responsible for covering the remaining balance, effectively creating a conditional cost-sharing requirement without a fixed match percentage. Eligibility is broad and inclusive, allowing individual residents, whether renters or homeowners, to apply on behalf of their neighborhood, provided they reside within the city limits. Formal and informal neighborhood associations, registered homeowners associations, and nonprofit organizations working to improve neighborhoods are also eligible. Applicants do not need to belong to a formal association, but if one exists, they must obtain documented approval. Nonprofits are not required to be physically located within the city but must demonstrate a clear benefit to a Bowling Green neighborhood. The application process is designed to be accessible, offering multiple submission methods including an online form, downloadable PDF, or paper application. Completed applications may be submitted via email or delivered in person to the Neighborhood and Community Services office. Applicants are required to provide cost estimates or quotes, and projects must be completed within one year of award unless an extension is granted. Applications undergo an initial review by the Community Engagement Division Manager, with additional input from subject matter experts and staff as needed. Final funding recommendations are approved by the Board of Commissioners. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle with two defined application windows. The fall cycle accepts applications from July 1 through August 1, with awards approved in September, while the spring cycle runs from January 1 through February 1, with approvals in March. Applicants who receive funding in one cycle are not eligible to apply again in the same fiscal year, though unsuccessful applicants may reapply in the subsequent cycle. For additional information or technical assistance, applicants may contact the Community Engagement Division Manager directly via email or phone.