Media Advisory

What: News Conference to Announce “Love Your Block” Grants

When: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.

Where: Woodruff Community Garden – 7^th & Brown Streets

The Little Rock Board of Directors is happy to announce a competitive grant program designed to help Neighborhood-Based Organizations (NBOs) meet their most pressing challenges through community service and focused City Services.  The purpose of the Neighborhood Challenge-Love Your Block Grant Program is to promote and increase volunteerism in the city while partnering with city staff to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. 

Thanks to a generous $10,000.00 grant from the Home Depot Foundation, $17,000.00 in City of Little Rock funds and a combined $6,000.00 from Arkansas House of Representative members John Walker and John Edwards, the City anticipates awarding thirty-five (35) $1,000 grants (Five (5) $1,000 grants in each Ward).  Any neighborhood-based organization (NBO) registered with the City is eligible to apply.  The objective of the Neighborhood Challenge-Love Your Block Grant Program is to encourage projects that promote volunteerism, foster civic pride, enhance and beautify neighborhoods, or encourage improvements in the way residents connect and solve problems. With this launch, the City of Little Rock joins 10 cities nationwide in implementing the Cities of Service Love Your Block blueprint, which helps revitalize neighborhoods one block at a time.

“We are delighted to support local volunteer projects through “Love Your Block” aimed at creating and maintaining stable and healthy communities,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation.  “The Little Rock community deserves enormous credit for the work it is doing, and we are glad to be part of their efforts.”   

 “The Love Your Block grant program is a Cities of Service initiative”, stated Little Rock Chief Service Officer Michael Drake, “and is built on the premise that Citizens across our city are the best caretakers of their neighborhoods.  This Grant Program will help to foster a sense of community and belonging as citizens identify the projects that will benefit their neighborhood and use the grant funds, combined with community service and focused city services, to make lasting impacts.”

About Cities of Service

Founded in New York City on September 10, 2009 by 17 mayors from cities around the nation, Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of mayors who have committed to work together to engage citizens to address pressing city needs through impact volunteerism. The coalition includes more than 100 mayors, representing nearly 50 million Americans across the nation. Cities of Service supports mayors to leverage citizen service strategies, addressing local needs and making government more effective. Cities of Service is supporting Little Rock's efforts by funding the city's first-ever Chief Service Officer position through a Cities of Service Leadership Grant.

Meg Matthews

Public Relations Manager

(501) 804-4822

Join us on Facebook !  www.Facebook.com/CityofLittleRockFans

Follow us on Twitter! @CityLittleRock