Mayor Schor told the Lansing City Council on Jan. 6 that the city’s neighborhood grants portal is open and accepting applications through early March, with learning sessions scheduled in January and February and the neighborhood advisory board meeting set for Jan. 16.

Scholarly details: Mayor Schor said the portal already had 15 submissions and listed learning-session dates of Jan. 7, 16, 23 and Feb. 6, 20 and 26. He said residents can contact neighborhood resource coordinator Robin Anderson King for application help and that the neighborhood advisory board will meet Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

On public safety, Mayor Schor reported that seven new police recruits are in the Police Academy, promotional and fire-department award ceremonies are scheduled this week, and demolition began at LFD Station 2 on North Grand River near MLK; construction of the new station is expected to start this month.

Why it matters: The neighborhood grants portal and associated learning sessions are direct opportunities for neighborhood projects to secure local funding. Progress on public safety facilities follows the city’s recent millage-funded work and signals upcoming construction activity in affected neighborhoods.