City of Montgomery, AL

If you are initiating the neighborhood association process, it is important to identify a few of your goals before you ask others to join you. Goals for improving your neighborhood can include:

• Helping neighborhoods get to know each other by holding events
• Making physical improvements, such as installing streetlights, and sidewalks or improving community identification signs
• Holding regular neighborhood clean-up events
• Forming a community watch to reduce crime
• Organizing to share opinions with representatives of government

To request a copy of our “How to Start a Neighborhood Association” packet, contact Neighborhood Services at 334-625-2175 or email us at neighborhoodservices@montgomeryal.gov.

The purpose of the neighborhood grant program is to empower citizens to improve the overall quality of life in their neighborhoods through citizen and government partnerships.  The grant requires a match (monetary or in-kind) to complete neighborhood-proposed projects that foster self-help, self-management, and neighborhood pride as well as enhance and beautify the neighborhood. Funds are awarded based on merit with a maximum being $5,000.

The Annual Neighborhood Grant Applications are received in December and each application is assigned to members of our Advisory Board to conduct a site visit.  In January, we meet with the Neighborhood Services Advisory Board, consisting of community members, to review each application to determine the projects that meet criteria for funding approval.  The number of awards available is based on available funding for the Neighborhood Services program.  Neighborhood Services reserves the right to deny any grant request.

Public safety/public works program or initiatives: to include training, crime or fire prevention, traffic deterrent or calming project studies (this is not to replace the work of the City or County of Montgomery, but to support neighborhood-driven initiatives over and above the natural scope of work). 

Cultural, education, community involvement, and recreational programs: to include literacy programs, leadership training, computer labs, after-school enrichment programs, cultural arts programs, and summer camps, community fairs, community/neighborhood recruitment events, parties with a purpose (NNO and the like).

Neighborhood plan (Charrette) or study: this would allow a neighborhood to pay a consultant or area expert to lead them in a neighborhood plan or focus work on a particular problem area that may warrant physical improvement through infrastructure changes.  (This would need to be coordinated with the planning department and council/commission representative to be certain other efforts are not already underway).  

Technical Assistance/Marketing: this will include website design, and maintenance, specialty flyers, pamphlets, promoting events, booklets for neighborhood projects, etc.

Neighborhood Associations, Homeowner Associations, Neighborhood Watch groups, and neighborhood groups may apply.  All projects are required to have a project coordinator as the primary point of contact.

Grants are not available to individuals, businesses, universities, foundations, political or fraternal organizations, churches, neighborhood alliances, or apartment complexes.  (This is not an exhaustive list.)  Eligible applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with these ineligible groups to plan and implement projects. The eligible applicant must retain the primary role in the partnership.

Our Neighborhood Services Advisory Board members are integral to our grant process, as well as assisting with our yearly banquet. We have a strong core of members currently but we are constantly looking and recruiting dedicated community representatives to volunteer their time and serve on our board.

If you would like to serve on our board or volunteer, you can reach us at 334-625-2175 or email us at neighborhoodservices@montogmeryal.gov for more information.