The Citizens Bank Foundation announced plans to invest $40,000 in grants as part of its Growing Communities initiative in Newport’s Broadway and North End neighborhoods. Growing Communities is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program to help contribute to the economic vitality of its communities. The Growing Communities initiative is designed to foster neighborhood revitalization and economic development activities across Rhode Island.
Through the Growing Communities initiative, Citizens Bank Foundation will partner with the Rhode Island Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) to award $40,000 in grants, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. The initiative will fund projects that contribute to the resiliency of Newport’s Broadway and North End neighborhoods by fostering neighborhood growth and supporting local economic activity. Applications may include efforts for job creation and sustainability, workforce development activities, small business development, neighborhood revitalization, and overall efforts towards livability. The application deadline is December 31.
“The cornerstone of our work at Citizens Bank is to help strengthen our communities.” said Barbara Cottam, Rhode Island Market Executive, Citizens Bank. “The Growing Communities initiative supports local organizations that are implementing innovative ideas that are designed to strengthen our communities and revitalize our neighborhoods.”
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Citizens Bank Foundation on the Growing Communities initiative. By fostering neighborhood revitalization and economic development activities in a targeted community, we can make a meaningful and visible difference,” said Jeanne Cola, Executive Director of LISC Rhode Island. “Building on the success in previous phases, we encourage organizations to apply that are in the Newport Broadway and North End and working to improve the quality of life for residents.”
Growing Communities is designed to promote and invest in neighborhood revitalization based on the existing assets of a community. These investments may support small business, workforce development and job creation, or to make an area more livable. The initiative was originally launched by Citizens in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2010.
Projects eligible for the Growing Communities initiative must meet the following criteria:
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- Project must be focused on improving the quality of the Broadway and North End neighborhoods.
- Proposed activity must establish clear goals that will demonstrate measurable outcomes.
Priority consideration may be given to projects that serve low- or moderate-income individuals that strongly impact a community in need, that foster collaboration with clearly defined roles for other partners, and that demonstrate a plan for long-term sustainability.
Interested applicants must complete the application and narrative located at Phase 7 Application.
The deadline for applications is December 31, 2019. For questions about the program or the application process, please contact Pauline Bellavance at LISC at PBellavance@lisc.org or phone 401.519.5608.
