Josh Ellison, Neighborhood Services Manager, told the commission that the Neighborhood Empowerment Grant (NEP) is a city-funded, matching reimbursement program governed by city code (Chapter 14) designed to support community-driven projects. "It is a matching grant, and it is fully funded by the city," Ellison said, summarizing the program rules; awards can be up to $10,000 per project per year and require a 1:1 match in cash or documented volunteer hours (Ellison noted volunteers can be counted toward the full match).

Ellison said the NEP pool for the current year is $30,000 after earlier budget cuts; historically the program had been funded as high as $50,000 (Ellison: "This year, we only have 30,000 available for this grant"). Eligible projects include physical improvements on public/common areas, cultural and educational programs, public safety initiatives, neighborhood master plans or comparable studies, and community festivals or services. Ellison described a recent example in southeast Denton where the city awarded funds for a computer lab; the neighborhood provided matching volunteer hours for the project.

Ellison emphasized that applicants must be neighborhood associations, homeowner associations, tenant associations or similar neighborhood groups (generally five or more unrelated households in the same area) and that groups must have a federal tax identification number to receive reimbursement checks; partnerships with a tax-exempt organization are allowed. Applications are reimbursed after prior approval and verification of completion and expenditures.

Commissioners told staff low awareness and difficulty providing upfront matching funds were barriers; several asked staff to include NEP resources on the HLC/preservation web page and to hold application workshops. Ellison said staff will offer workshops and assist applicants through the application process. The commission made no formal changes to the NEP rules at this meeting.