The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) and NW HomeStart are proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 Neighborhood Grants Program. The grants will be awarded to 12 neighborhood organizations (listed below) working to improve the quality of life in their communities. The grants are worth $22,000. 

CFNIL has operated a neighborhood grants program since 1995, distributing more than $630,000 to build better neighborhoods in Rockford. This is the first year the two organizations are collaborating in order to expand the availability of funds to neighborhood-based groups in the four county region. Recipients of the Neighborhood Grants Program are non-profits or neighborhood-based organizations operating in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson or Winnebago County. The Neighborhood Grants Program will fund neighborhood projects, including but not limited to beautification, community gardens, shading for dog parks, soup kitchen, bike riding initiatives and community clean ups. The maximum award from the Neighborhood Grants Program is $2,500.

African American Resource Center
$2500 for “AARC at Booker Senior Boomer Outdoor Access Beautification Project”
To honor the Montague Heights community’s senior citizens with a beautified walking path 

Comprehensive Community Solutions
$2,500 for "CCS Community Garden Beautification Project”
To have YouthBuild participants work together to develop a community garden held on the property 

Coronado Haskell Neighborhood Association
$2,445 for "Coronado Haskell Peace Space”
To install a custom made sign, park bench, and landscaping details to create the Coronado Haskell Peace Space

Greater Freeport Partnership
$2,500 for "Downtown Pocket Park”
To transform the space of two condemned buildings into a useable amenity that enhances the pedestrian experience while greening downtown and providing a new habitat for pollinators

Rock Valley College
$1,200 for "Camp Supernova”
To provide an opportunity for children to learn the social and developmental skills that theatre instills

Second First Church
$2,500 for "Serious Soup Kitchen.”
To give the community a place to gather while eating nutritious food and by offering job training to select residents

Rockford Park District Foundation
$510 for "City of Gardens Beautification Project at Thompson School Park”
To provide 10-12 new shade trees and creating a park that is inviting and encourages neighbors to gather and enjoy being outside.

Village of Poplar Grove
$2,500 for "Trees for the dog park”
To purchase and plant (6) Autumn Blaze Maple trees in the newly created dog park

Transform Rockford
$1,130 for "City Streets and Pedalin’ Feet”
To bring neighbors together via short, casual neighborhood bike rides in their own backyard

Garfield Avenue Historic District
$1,500 for "Neighborhood Clean Up”
To help beautify the area 

Northwest Neighbors
$1,800 for "Mel Anderson Slow Roll Summer Biking Event”
To help bring awareness to the city bike path and offer support to the Northwest side of town 

Habitat For Humanity
$915 for "Community Building in Beverly Park”
To support the fourth neighborhood garage sale and bring neighbors back together in a meaningful way to build unity 

About NW HomeStart

HomeStart creates choice in housing, community in neighborhoods, and empowerment in personal finance. Serving ten counties in Northwest Illinois, HomeStart works in partnership with residents, local elected officials, and business leaders to strengthen communities within the region. 

HomeStart is a HUD-approved housing counseling organization and chartered-member of NeighborWorks America, a nationwide network of nearly 241 trained and certified community development organizations at work in nearly 3,000 communities across America. Learn more at nwhomestart.org