The Fund for Germantown is driving local improvement projects

Germantown United Community Development Corporation established the Fund for Germantown — Projects for Progress Program last year, and the program designed to enable members of its community to undertake locally impactful projects that have an immediate impact on Germantown. The deadline for the first round of 2015 grants is July 15.

The grants, which are intentionally small (approximately $100-$1000), will be awarded to projects or programs within Germantown’s borders defined by zip codes 19144 and 19138. Proposals can come from groups, agencies, individual businesses, and organizations.

Types of projects that will be funded are those that attempt to improve the beauty, cleanliness and safety of Germantown, including:

• Community gardens and tree planting
• Facade improvements
• Public art
• Cleaning
• Vacant property mitigation
• Safety improvements
• Signage

The program is funded through donations from individuals and businesses, and initial seed funding was provided by local developers, Howard Treatman and Ken Weinstein. Grants will be awarded through the Germantown United Community Development Corporation. The CDC anticipates that three to five grants will be awarded in each of two rounds.

Grantees for the first round will be announced on July 30.

Image via Germantown United Community Development Corporation