Neighborhood Initiatives Program

The goal of the Neighborhood Initiatives Program (NIP) is to improve the quality of life in the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Target Area (PDF) neighborhoods. As such, the NIP is designed to:

Improve the physical environments of Bellingham’s neighborhoods, and to increase facilities for neighborhood residents
Provide a process that allows residents to identify high priority projects for their neighborhoods, and
A system of evaluation to competitively select projects.

Current Projects

Improvements to the Old Village Trail

Program Eligibility

Projects must be located in one of the CDBG Target Areas, which include all of Sehome, York, and Sunnyland Neighborhoods. Portions of the South, Happy Valley, WWU, Lettered Streets, Puget, Whatcom Falls, Roosevelt, Mt. Baker, Birchwood, Meridian, Guide Meridian, and the Central Business District Neighborhoods are also Target Areas. See the CDBG Target Area Map for boundary delineation.

Criteria

Projects that are proposed for public property that will have substantial impact and benefit to the residents of CDBG Target Area neighborhoods.

Ideally, projects will have been cited in previously adopted plans/documents (i.e. Neighborhood Plans, Whatcom Creek Trail Master Plan, the City's Comprehensive Plan, Parks Master Plan, etc.). If the project is not mentioned in a previously adopted plan, the applicant must address how the project connects with other community goals and/or current or planned projects, and why it is a high priority for the neighborhood.

A project that serves an area, such as the Central Business District (CBD), which is not primarily residential in character, does not qualify under this program. A project located in the CBD would qualify, however, if it significantly benefited adjacent residential Target Areas.

Projects must fall into one or more of the following categories:

Construction Projects. Creation of tot lots, neighborhood parks, or play equipment; new construction, rehabilitation, or improvements to existing parks or public facilities (ie: improving drainage and irrigation in park open lawn areas to increase year-round use); barrier removal for disabled individuals; or property acquisition for eligible construction projects.

Improvements to neighborhood trails such as the resurfacing of existing trails, structural replacements to trails (bridge and boardwalk), enhancement of trail corridors and greenways for neighborhood use by addition of picnic tables and/or benches, or the creation of neighborhood trail connectors to improve access and enhance use of the overall trail system.

Elimination of Neighborhood Hazards. Provide safe routes to school, street lighting, sidewalk repair, etc.

Appearance of Neighborhood Projects. Brushing, pruning, thinning or planting vegetation; adding landscaping in parks and greenway areas; adding street trees; or disposing of trash, debris, etc.

Special Category. Projects which do not fit into the above categories but provide a high level of public benefit to area residents, especially low- and moderate-income households (i.e. community center, daycare, etc.).

Application Process

A Notice of Availability of Funds and Request for Proposals is released by the Community Development Division. Neighborhoods have several weeks to determine priority projects and develop their applications. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals prior to submittal, and it is recommended that they contact any City departments that will be affected by the project. Any group or person residing in a Target Area that can organize and assist in implementing a project may submit a proposal.

Technical Session. A technical session is offered prior to the application deadline, to provide neighborhoods the opportunity to ask questions of staff.

Proposal Review. Community Development staff and affected departments review and rank the proposals, based on the criteria outlined in the application.

Proposal selection by CDAB. Staff submits recommendations to the Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB). One or more projects will be conditionally selected by the Board, pending further development of the plans.

Predevelopment Phase. Staff works with applicants to develop a plan for project predevelopment. During predevelopment, applicants will demonstrate project feasibility through further planning and resolution of significant issues.

Project(s) selection for Implementation Phase. Staff makes a final recommendation to the Board, and one or more projects are selected for implementation.

Evaluation Criteria

Public benefit (type of benefit and number of citizens served)
Compliance with CDBG regulations
Project feasibility (can the project be developed as described)
Performance capacity of sponsor/participants (track record)
Neighborhood support for project
Approval of the affected City Departments
Citation of the adopted planning documents discussing the project and/or connection to other community projects
Leveraging by the neighborhood (i.e. with volunteers, donated materials, etc.).
Future fiduciary impact of project to affected City Departments

For more information about the NIP contact Community Development.