By Abby Hoover

The City of Kansas City, Mo., has once again extended the application period for its newest grant program.

Residents and local organizations can take advantage of a unique opportunity to build better neighborhoods through the newly introduced ReBuild KC-Neighborhood Grants program, which will primarily use American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARP) to finance a variety of neighborhood improvements.

This initiative is part of City Manager Brian Platt’s plans to shift the department to a more solution-oriented team that is responsive to residents. He and newly-appointed Neighborhood Services Director Forest Decker share the vision that emphasizes community/neighborhood collaboration and support for neighborhoods’ greatest needs like safety, infrastructure, and beautification.  

“I want Kansas City residents to know we’re listening to them and are actively working to prioritize their ideas into our planning so we can do our part to make neighborhoods even more vibrant and active,” Platt said.

Examples of projects the grant can fund are housing improvements, affordable housing and unhoused solutions; infrastructure projects and improvements such as sidewalks, sustainable streetscapes, digital access, blight elimination, etc.; job creation and employment training programs; violence prevention and crime reduction initiatives; energy sustainability/efficiency programs, such as tree planting, solar or other alternative energy solutions; neighborhood resiliency projects or programs; and activities that promote healthy communities.

The program will be administered by the Neighborhood Services Department and anyone is welcome to apply, with grants ranging in size and scope dependent on community requests, demonstrated need, and availability of funds. Selected projects will demonstrate how they will strengthen partnerships and interactions among community/neighborhood residents, will improve neighborhood quality and livability and/or will support an activity advancing economic development.

This program is part of the City and Neighborhood Services Department’s vision to give neighborhoods more of a say in what their neighborhoods look like, advocating directly for resources and improvements that they need. 

“We welcome projects of all sizes, whether it’s something small as a tree planting or park bench installation to something as large as a new building with 500 affordable housing units,” Decker said. “All we ask is that your project clearly demonstrates a benefit to Kansas Citians.” 

Individuals, neighborhood associations, homes associations, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit companies and others are all encouraged to apply. The funds will be spent only in Kansas City and must have a community or public benefit.

Selected projects will demonstrate how they will strengthen partnerships and interactions among community/neighborhood residents, will improve neighborhood quality and livability and/or will support an activity advancing economic development.

Because the City will use American Rescue Plan stimulus as part of the FY 2022-23 budget deliberations, the amount available for this program won’t be determined until after the budget is adopted. 

The deadline has been extended to March 22, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. An internal review committee made up of representatives from multiple city departments will review applications. Depending on project scope and type of project, the City anticipates projects could start as early as late spring 2022. Visit kcmo.gov/rebuildkc.