The City of Buffalo ARP Spending Plan allocates $9 million toward the development of a two-year program that will provide jobs for individuals who will advance the City’s neighborhood improvement efforts, parks improvement projects, and other community service efforts in the city.
Donor Name: City of Buffalo
State: New York
City: Buffalo
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/22/2022
Size of the Grant: $4,100,000
Details:
The Buffalo Neighborhood Improvement Corps is a program designed to achieve a triple-bottom line of providing program participants an opportunity to learn and earn, improving city infrastructure, and developing a more-skilled workforce for local employers.
The Neighborhood Improvement Corps will be comprised of 50 members and 5 supervisors. Hiring preference will be for low-income residents who live in historically disinvested communities. In addition to providing these services, Corps members will also be able to enroll in academic and enrichment programs.
Corps are locally based organizations that engage community members in service projects that address conservation, recreation, and quality of life needs. Through a term of service that could last from a few months to a year, Corps participants – or “Corpsmembers” – gain work experience and develop in-demand skills. Corpsmembers are compensated with a stipend or living allowance. Additionally, Corps provide participants with educational programming, mentoring, and access to career and personal counseling.
The main components of a Corps are as follows:
- Organizes Corps members in crews or teams and assigns a supervisor to serve as a mentor and role model.
- Provides growth opportunities to Corps members through a combination of intentional development activities that include education, technical training, career readiness, and supportive services.
- Has a goal of completing project work that benefits the community as a central element of its mission.
- Has a defined period of full-time service for Corps members that is paid and tied to developmental goals.
Priority
The Corps will enroll solely residents of the city of Buffalo with a hiring preference provided for low-income residents and residents who are un- or underemployed at the time of enrollment.
Funding will be made available for up to $4,100,000 per year for two years beginning in Fiscal Year 2023. The City of Buffalo has discretion whether to provide year two funding dependent on the impact of year one. Indirect costs are allowable but cannot exceed 10% of the total direct costs. There is no requirement for matching funds.
Project Focus
- Horticulture Crew
- Landscaping, invasive species control, trail and corridor maintenance, native species and tree planting, urban garden support and maintenance, snow removal
- Mechanical Crew
- Maintaining park facilities, playgrounds, picnic benches, and other public structures
- Clean Streets Crew
- Vacant lot maintenance and rehabilitation, food scrap collection and composting, commercial corridor clean-up, recycling programs and community outreach, snow removal
- Community Activation Crew
- Informing community members of available resources, identifying community needs, supporting community events or educational opportunities
- Roving Crew
- Roving crew completes projects within all the categories mentioned above as well as additional special initiatives as they arise
Key Performance Indicators (KPIS)
- Project accomplishments
- Acres of habitat restored, Acres treated for invasive species, Trees planted, Tons of Trash or Debris disposed, Miles of waterway enhanced, Number of public facilities maintained or constructed, Number of vacant lots maintained, etc.
- Corpsmember outcomes
- Employment status one-month post-program, employment status six-months postprogram, annual income pre-program vs post-program, credentials received, individual development plan (IDP) goals reached, etc.
- Community Engagement
- volunteers engaged, total service hours completed by volunteers, community events assisted, number of educational programs, number of community members engaged in educational programs, etc.
For more information, visit Neighborhood Improvement Corps Grant.
