Delaware County Announces $475K in Grants for Community and Neighborhood Projects

Released: May 4, 2022

Delaware County Council joined Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon on May 4 to highlight $475,000 in federal funding to support a new micro-grant program in Delaware County. The Delaware County Community Partnering Program is specifically designed to provide outreach to historically underserved communities.

“The $475,000 in federal funding we secured for the Community Partnering Program will empower neighborhoods and people that have been impacted by disinvestment for far too long,” said Congresswoman Scanlon. “I am thrilled about all of the projects we were able to support as part of the Community Project Funding process, and the unique thing about Delaware County’s new Community Partnering Program is that it puts these taxpayer dollars back into the hands of our neighbors. It will give Delaware County residents and organizations the chance to make decisions about projects that directly impact their communities and then provide them with the funding to execute their ideas.”

The Delaware County Community Partnering Program will empower neighborhoods and build communities through the deployment of micro-grants. The average grant is expected to be $25,000 — allowing the initiative to have a broad impact. Community groups, neighborhood groups, and organizations are eligible to receive a grant to help fund projects that are organized and sustained by neighborhood residents and community groups. Eligible projects can include (but are not limited to) community gardens, pocket parks, bicycle facilities, pedestrian enhancements, elder transport coordination, snow removal for physically restricted persons, or education initiatives such as energy awareness programs. The micro-grants can also be used to meet local cost-share requirements for other private and public grant opportunities.

The Community Partnering Program is specifically designed to provide outreach to historically underserved neighborhoods that have borne the burden of disinvestment for many decades. The program reduces barriers to accessing resources for community-based improvements and places a high value on participation from residents.

“We are excited to offer these grants to residents and we hope neighborhood and community groups will take advantage of the grants and utilize them for projects in their communities,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “These types of projects allow residents to work together to enhance the places where they live, work, play, and raise families. We are investing in neighborhood groups and organizations that are working together to invest their time and talent to better their communities.”

Applications for the Community Partnering Program are now being accepted. Additional information on how to apply is available at delcopa.gov/cpp.