Want to Improve Your Neighborhood?

You may not know it, but some of Carrollwood's benches, butterfly gardens and signs have been spruced up over the past few years using neighborhood mini-grants from Hillsborough County.

Here's some good news from county officials: Neighborhood associations can now apply for mini-grants up to $2,500 for fiscal year 2013 to fund projects to improve their communities and increase civic involvement. 

Hillsborough County’s Office of Neighborhood Relations is accepting applications through Friday, August 17 at 5 p.m. Applications for the mini-grants are available on the County’s website at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr/minigrant.

These mini-grants support community projects in neighborhoods located in unincorporated areas of the County, and the cities of Plant City, Tampa, and Temple Terrace. Previous grant-funded projects include shrub and flower planting, subdivision entrance signs, playground equipment, neighborhood festivals, crime watch programs, websites, newsletters, and education activities.

Applications will be reviewed by the Neighborhood Mini-Grant Evaluation Committee and approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Only one grant will be awarded per neighborhood association. Recipients will be notified by November 30.

Completed applications may be dropped off or mailed to Office of Neighborhood Relations, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 1st Floor, Tampa, FL 33602, or faxed to 813-276-2621.

The Mini-Grant Program was established in 1988 by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to improve and revitalize communities, and strengthen neighborhood associations. For more information, call ONR at 813-272-5860.