Have you seen the signs?You may see signs of what your neighborhood has done for you — but also look beyond the signs
By: Staff 12/01/2007
Signs are popping up all around the seven Camden neighborhoods saying, “This Project funded in part by your Neighborhood Association and the Minneapolis NRP.” Neighborhood organizations and their members are proudly displaying these signs because they have been a part of planning or partially funding many projects over the past 17 years through the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). In the first phase of NRP the seven Camden neighborhood organizations were allocated a total of $12.3 million, with $6.48 million dedicated to housing improvements. So you might see signs by Shingle Creek Commons where multiple neighborhoods contributed nearly $250,000 of their housing dollars toward building senior housing for our community.
The remaining $5.82 million, spread over the past 15 years and seven neighborhoods, has helped towards improvements to tot lots, parks, libraries and schools. The neighborhoods also helped fund things that you won’t see a sign in front of, like youth programs, improved home values, neighborhood stability, Camden Youth Engagement Project, Phat Summer, Summer Stars, additional police hours and safety investments, business facade improvements, transportation for seniors and youth, senior/youth chore core programs, neighborhood offices for residents to get connected, and a myriad of community events and activities. These are a result of neighborhood residents having the ability, through their neighborhood organizations, to react and respond to their community needs at the local, grassroots level. Other places you won’t see a sign are in the many connected relationships and resources strong independent neighborhood organizations have made through the CityKids program, Holiday on 44th, Heritage Day, Spring Art Party, Northside Housing and Home Improvement Fair, Youth are Here Circulator Bus, and many others.
By 2004 the projections for NRP Phase II for the seven Camden neighborhoods were a total of $3.73 million, with $1.96 million dedicated toward housing, and the remaining $1.77 million to be distributed over the neighborhoods for each of their five-year action plans. This December these numbers have yet to be solidified. Basically, neighborhoods once able to approve 20-30 or more home improvement loans a year in Phase I may now be only able to do one or two a year and program-leveraging dollars may be next to nonexistent.
How many signs the community sees in the future has yet to be determined. NRP funding is up to you - if you want a grassroots say in your neighborhood funding let your elected officials know. Keep in mind that your neighborhood meetings are free and open to the public; to see what your neighborhood organization has contributed to the community visit www.neighbors4nrp.com and find out more about your neighborhood on pages 8 and 9 of the Camden News.