The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) and HomeStart are proud to announce the recipients of the 2017 Neighborhood Grants Program. The grants will be awarded to 13 organizations that are working to improve the quality of life in their communities. CFNIL has operated a neighborhood grants program since 1995, distributing more than $676,000 to build better neighborhoods in Rockford. This is the second year the two organizations are collaborating in order to expand the availability of funds to neighborhood-based groups throughout Northern Illinois. (Pictured: Representatives from the 13 recipient organizations.)

Capron Lions Club – $2,500
Capron Lions Community Building Improvements
The Lions Club will complete the installation of an exhaust hood and apply an epoxy floor covering in the Community Building, making it a more useful space for community events. Capron Lions Club serves the people of Boone, McHenry, and Winnebago Counties and areas in Southern Wisconsin.

Center for Nonviolence & Conflict Transformation – $1,500
Providing Ozobot a Computer Coding Robot
The Center for Nonviolence and Conflict Transformation will teach computer coding to at-risk youth. Ozobots, small robots that can be programmed on smartphones or tablets, will be used to make coding fun and accessible. The Center for Nonviolence & Conflict Transformation serves Winnebago County.

Church School Neighborhood Association – $1,220
Maintaining Church School Neighborhood
The Church School Neighborhood Association will maintain alleys, empty lots, and abandoned houses in the neighborhood. This project will enable the association to remove additional stumps, fencelines, and debris making it easier to keep those areas mowed. Church School Neighborhood Association serves the people residing between Kilburn Avenue to the east, Central Avenue to the west, Auburn Street to the north, and School Street to the south.

Coronado Haskell Neighborhood Association – $2,500
Coronado Haskell Day at the Museum
In conjunction with Jeremiah Development, the Burpee Museum, and the Rockford Area Arts Council, Coronado Haskell Neighborhood Association will host its annual neighborhood event in order to bring the neighbors together. The event will provide information on health, wellness, and crime prevention to attendees. Coronado Haskell Neighborhood Association serves the people residing between the Rock River to the east, Kilburn Avenue to the west, Whitman Street to the north, and Jefferson Street to the south.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church – $1,285
Midtown Community Partners for Positive Change
Emmanuel Lutheran Church will provide resident-focused conflict resolution seminars, community policing events, kid-friendly workshops on computer coding and science, and music and art classes. This will build a stronger community and create better relationships with the law enforcement. This project will serve the Midtown Neighborhood: Kishwaukee Street to the west, 11th Street to the east, State Street to the north, and 9th Avenue to the south.

Galapagos Rockford Charter School NFP – $2,500
Galapagos Rockford Playground Construction
Galapagos Rockford Charter School will build a new community playground on the grounds of its elementary school on Rockford’s West Side. The playground will serve Galapagos’ students, as well as neighborhood residents. Galapagos Rockford Charter School accepts children from within the boundaries of Rockford Public School District #205. This project will serve students and residents living near the school, which is located at 2605 School Street in Rockford.

Miracle Mile Rockford – $2,500
Tidying Up the Miracle Mile
Miracle Mile Rockford will purchase and install trash receptacles along East State Street, typically near bus stops. The trash receptacles will be periodically emptied by local businesses. Miracle Mile Rockford serves residents living between SwedishAmerican Hospital to the west, Rockford University to the east, Guilford Road to the north, and Charles Street to the south.

North End Square Neighborhood Association – $2,500
NESNA Newsletter 2017
The North End Square Neighborhood Association (NESNA) will produce educational materials and newsletters that provide information about neighborhood safety and well-being. The neighborhood association will host a picnic to encourage interaction between neighbors that may not otherwise meet, increasing the opportunity for building stronger relationships and fostering pride in the community. NESNA serves the residents living between Auburn Street to the south, Ridge Street to the west, Fulton Avenue to the north, and Main Street to the east.

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – $2,500
Beverly Park Town Hall Series
Habitat will help launch a Beverly Park Neighborhood Association. In partnership with Neighborhood Network, Habitat will support a three-month series of “Town Hall” meetings designed to address pressing neighborhood issues and facilitate action plans. The three-month series will culminate in a social event in the neighborhood. This project will serve residents in the Beverly Park Neighborhood, which is bordered by Auburn Street to the south, Kilburn Avenue to the north and east, and Central Avenue to the west.

Rockford Park District Foundation – $1,500
City of Gardens Beautification Projects
The program has grown from 18 baskets to almost 300. In 2017 an additional 22 baskets will be added to new poles in the downtown area. The funding will help address the replacement of baskets that have reached the end of use as well as help with the rising costs of the program. The Rockford Park District serves the people of Rockford, Loves Park, Cherry Valley, and New Milford as well as all visitors to the area.

Rolling Green Association – $933
West Gateway Garden
Rolling Green Association will complete its neighborhood garden by adding low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants and will repair damage caused by weather and vandals. The Rolling Green Association serves residents living between Alpine Road to the east, Harrison Avenue to the south, 20th Street to the west, and Broadway to the north.

West Gateway Coalition – $1,000
Supporting West Gateway Coalition Clean Up
West Gateway Coalition will support the various member neighborhood associations with supplies and support for numerous cleanups in 2017. West Gateway Coalition serves residents between Auburn Street to the north, Preston Street to the south, Kilburn to the east, and Pierpont to the west.

Zion West Neighborhood Association – $2,000
Project 1013 Support
Zion West Neighborhood Association will host this year’s Project 1013, a volunteer-led initiative to clear and beautify the Ellis Heights Neighborhood. Zion West anticipates that between 175 to 200 volunteers will work for four days in June. Zion West Neighborhood Association serves residents between School Street to the north, West State Street to the south, Kilburn Avenue to the east, and Central Avenue to the west.