AURORA | The City of Aurora is offering $60,000 in neighborhood beautification grants this year, with a maximum of $10,000 for each of the city’s six council wards.
“Aurora already has a great deal of collaboration among neighbors, and the beautification grants offer residents a chance to raise that sense of community to another level,” said Margee Cannon, Aurora’s neighborhood liaison coordinator, in a news release. “When we offered the grants for the first time last year, we were amazed at the range of ideas, the number of volunteers and the lasting, stunning improvements produced by the projects.”
Residents who have an idea for improving the physical condition of a neighborhood can coordinate with at least three separate households and apply for a grant of up for $5,000 per group. Projects must be within city limits, not intended for individual private properties, have a specific timeline and provide “an identifiable benefit to the neighborhood.”
In 2015, 12 groups received grants for projects, including a Ward I sanctuary garden, neighborhood signage in Ward II and landscape replacements in Ward VI.
“Our community is very small, and the grant afforded us the ability to make some much needed improvements,” said Sue Dickerson, president of the Iliff Commons HOA and a 2015 grant recipient, in the release. “The grant process was very straightforward and easy. It was a great opportunity to meet and work alongside some of our neighbors. We also uncovered some key skills among our neighbors that we can use for future projects. Everyone is very happy with the outcome of the beautification project.”
Applications are online at www.auroragov.org/keepauroraclean and are due by March 18. Grant recipients will be notified by April 15, and the projects must be completed by Oct. 31. Call the city’s Neighborhood Services Department at 303-739-7280 with questions.
