Neighborhood Grant Program

The Neighborhood Grant Program is a Bernalillo County program created to support recognized neighborhood associations and promote collaboration between local government and the communities it serves. The program is based on the county's stated view that strong neighborhoods and active residents contribute to the vitality and uniqueness of Bernalillo County. Neighborhood associations are described as playing an important role in strengthening community identity, resident involvement, and neighborhood connection across the county. The purpose of the program is to provide limited funding for neighborhood projects and programs that enhance the safety, beauty, and connectivity of Bernalillo County neighborhoods. Eligible projects or events must occur within Bernalillo County, must benefit the neighborhood by improving safety, beauty, or connectivity, must be free and open to all residents within the neighborhood association boundaries, and must be coordinated and completed by members of the awarded association. Project ideas identified in the program overview include social events and gatherings, community gardens or landscaping projects, training workshops, oral histories and other neighborhood-specific historical projects, art initiatives or mural dedications, and crime prevention projects. Funding is available in two project levels. Small Community Projects or Events may receive up to $2,500 per association, with the funding level shown as $1 to $2,500. Large Community Projects or Events may receive $2,501 to $7,500 per association. Small projects have no matching requirement and require an IRS tax identification number. Large projects require a 25 percent match and require an IRS tax identification number as well as recognized nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor. Matching contributions may be cash, in-kind contributions, volunteer labor, donated materials, or donated professional services. Volunteer labor is valued at $23.00 per hour, professional services are valued at customary rates up to $75.00 per hour, donated materials are valued at retail price, and cash donations may come from fundraising events, individuals, foundations, businesses, or community groups. Eligibility is limited to neighborhood associations recognized by either Bernalillo County or the City of Albuquerque. The program excludes homeowner associations, individual persons or businesses, religious organizations, government agencies and political groups, schools and universities, hospitals, and associations or coalitions outside Bernalillo County boundaries. Ineligible projects and expenditures include projects on private property, capital improvement projects, administrative costs or outreach group expenses other than an approved fiscal agent, beautification or improvement projects that local jurisdictions are responsible for, website creation or maintenance and related website fees, electronic equipment such as cameras, computers, iPads, printers, video equipment, and phones, and permanent signs on public or private property. The application is evaluated on a 100-point scale. The scoring categories are Project Overview for 30 points, Community Need for 15 points, Neighborhood Involvement for 15 points, Project Budget for 30 points, and Quotes for 10 points. A complete application should include a clear project title, summary, objective, anticipated goals and outcomes, timeline, explanation of how the project will enhance safety, beauty, or connectivity, a description of how the project need was determined, an explanation of how association leadership will involve residents and members, a budget showing planned grant-funded expenses, and quotes or digital cart screenshots supporting budgeted expenses. The application process begins with publication of notice to recognized neighborhood associations, followed by applications due according to the adopted schedule, selection committee review, and award or non-award notification. After award, recipients must attend a mandatory meeting, submit an initial report and budget, receive an initial 50 percent release of funds, begin the project, submit a mid-report to receive remaining funds, participate in a Bernalillo County site visit, and submit a final report. Awarded recipients must submit all required reports, including initial, mid-budget, and final reports, with receipts required for mid-budget and final reports. Failure to submit required reports, receipts, and documentation may cause funding delays and possible future grant eligibility issues. Applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 grant cycle will be available on Monday, May 4. The provided materials do not state a final application deadline, award notification date, performance period end date, or recurring future cycle schedule. Bernalillo County may require proof of insurance before and during an event or project, including a Commercial General Liability policy of $1,000,000 per occurrence, with possible additional aggregate coverage of $2,000,000 depending on project scope. Bernalillo County must be added as an additional insured on the Certificate of Insurance before events begin. Program inquiries should be directed to Neighborhood Coordinator Megan Holcomb at 415 Silver Ave SW, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, by phone at (505) 228-9639, or by email at mholcomb@bernco.gov.

Align the proposal closely with the scoring rubric, especially the Project Overview and Project Budget sections because each is worth 30 points; show how the project enhances safety, beauty, or connectivity; demonstrate community support and accessibility for residents within association boundaries; include quotes or digital cart screenshots for all budgeted expenses.