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Lacey opens 2025 Neighborhood Grant round; $60,000 available, up to $2,500 per project

2356556 · February 19, 2025

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Summary

City staff reviewed the 2024 Neighborhood Grant program outcomes and told council the 2025 grant pool is $60,000. Grants reimburse 50% of eligible project costs, up to $2,500, require a dollar-for-dollar match and must be completed by Dec. 31, 2025; applications are due in March.

The City of Lacey presented a review of the 2024 Neighborhood Grant program and opened the 2025 application period, with $60,000 available for neighborhood projects. Ginny Bowersfield, the city’s Community Relations Specialist, told the council the program reimburses up to 50% of project costs, not to exceed $2,500 per project, and requires a dollar-for-dollar match; volunteer hours and in-kind donations may count toward the match.

Bowersfield said projects must be within Lacey city limits, provide a lasting neighborhood benefit, meet city codes and nondiscrimination policies, and be nonprofit in character. The program also was expanded in 2023 to include informal neighborhoods without a formally recognized homeowners association to better serve older neighborhoods with common-area needs.

Staff gave a 2024 snapshot: 43 projects were approved (40 completed), with total funding requests of about $183,000 and the city awarding approximately 91% of requested amounts in order to support as many neighborhoods as possible. Bowersfield said an accounting error caused total grants issued to exceed available funds by about $500 in the prior year; staff said there were no carryover funds for 2025. The council-designated grant fund for 2025 is $60,000; projects must be completed by Dec. 31, 2025 and the application deadline is in March, staff said.

The presentation highlighted example projects from 2024 — community bulletin boards, little free libraries, irrigation repairs, community gardens and mailbox-enclosure repairs — and stressed the program’s emphasis on community-building as well as capital improvements. Staff said they review applications with Community and Economic Development and Parks maintenance to ensure permit and code compliance before awarding funds.