The Neighborhood STAR program awards grants for capital improvement projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods.
Donor Name: City of Saint Paul
State: Minnesota
City: Saint Paul
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/31/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $50,000
Details:
Saint Paul’s neighborhoods are one of its greatest assets. With this in mind, state and local legislation was enacted to allocate revenue from the city’s half-cent sales tax to the Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Program. Administered by the City’s Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED), Neighborhood STAR provides grants for physical improvement projects which strengthen the vitality of city’s neighborhoods.
The STAR Program represents an extraordinary opportunity to revitalize the community. Providing economic development opportunities, stabilizing and renewing Saint Paul’s housing stock, and rejuvenating public infrastructure can be accomplished through the strategic use of Neighborhood STAR funds.
Funding Information
Grant requests of up to $50,000 will no longer require matching funds. Going forward, only grant requests of over $50,000 will require one-to-one matching funds in the full amount of the Neighborhood STAR funding request.
Eligible STAR-Funded Projects and Activities
- STAR funding may only be used for permanently affixed, physical (“bricks and mortar”) enhancements which strengthen and/or improve the neighborhoods of Saint Paul. Projects may include commercial and/or housing rehabilitation, parks projects, streetscape projects, creative place making/place keeping, and economic development activities with an expected life of seven or more years.
- Eligible activities include:
- Rehabilitation andor construction of commercial, residential or industrial property
- Most fixed interior and exterior improvements to commercial or residential structures including: walls, ceilings, floors, lighting, windows, doors, entrances, electrical, plumbing
- HVAC, energy and security improvements, handicap accessibility, and building code corrections.
- Minor public improvements (major public improvements should be referred to the city’s Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process)
- Beautification of public or private open space, including trees and shrubs, rain gardens, benches, play equipment, bicycle parking, and lighting. Creative placemaking / place keeping capital improvement activities, including public art and creative public infrastructure improvements, especially those located in a Cultural Destination Area
- Non-profit neighborhood organizations providing a funding program to local businesses, homeowners, or condominium/townhome owners for capital improvement activities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Public, non-profit and for-profit entities located or doing business within the City of Saint Paul
- City departments and quasi-governmental entities are an eligible applicant when in partnership with a neighborhood and/or community group
- Churches and religious organizations are eligible to apply when in partnership with a neighborhood and\or community group and only with respect to a project that:
- is non-sectarian and whose primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion;
- will make capital improvements for functions not associated with church-sponsored or religious type activities; and
- is open and available to the public at large on a regular basis.
Ineligibility
- Political parties and political action groups
- Federal, state and county agencies and departments
- Individual homeowners, condominium or townhome owners and/or the association representing them.
For more information, visit City of Saint Paul.
