The I Am Trenton Community Foundation and Isles, Inc. invite applications for the 2023 Old Trenton Neighborhood Spring Grant Round providing up to $8,000 for community projects, arts, culture, beautification, and business development in the neighborhood bordered by Perry Street, State Street, Route 1, and N. Broad Street.
“We look forward to supporting residents putting their insightful ideas into action for our community,” said Raj Manimaran, I Am Trenton Community Foundation board president. “These grants will focus resources to enhance the beauty, safety and vibrancy of Old Trenton.”
The grant program, established by Isles, Inc. is funded by the New Jersey Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. The program builds on priorities of the 2007 Old Trenton Neighborhood plan and the 2016 Creek to Canal Creative District plan (available at www.creektocanalcreative.org) to make Old Trenton a safe, active, and vibrant community, with a particular focus on reclaiming underused buildings and spaces, and supporting the arts as an agent of social change.
The Old Trenton Neighborhood is bordered by North Broad Street, Perry Street, Route 1, and East State Street.
To be eligible for funding, projects must have a clear community or economic benefit, be non-discriminatory, and benefit the Old Trenton neighborhood and its residents. These grants only support projects physically located inside the Old Trenton neighborhood. Funded projects must focus on either Business Development or Community Investment.
IAT expects to offer two rounds of OTN grants in 2023, with applications due in February and October. Each round has a 6-month time frame for project activities. See the IAT website for more details. (www.iamtrenton.org)
Applications for this first round are due February 15, 2023, at 11:59 pm EST. Please submit all materials through the online form at iamtrenton.org/oldtrenton.
Grantees will be notified by March 23, 2023, with checks awarded at a celebratory gathering within the neighborhood on Saturday April 1, 2023. Funded projects should take place between April 1 and September 30, 2023.
Those considering applying are encouraged – but not required – to attend workshops providing more information and an opportunity to ask questions. “Idea workshops” listed below let you discuss your project idea and whether it fits the OTN grant requirements. “Application workshops” focus on how to complete the application. Workshop dates are:
● Ideas workshop — Sat Jan 14, 10:00 – 11:30 am,
Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy St.
● Application workshop — Wed Jan 18, 6 pm – 7:30 pm, via Zoom
● Ideas workshop — Wed Jan 25, 6 pm – 7:30 pm, via Zoom
● Application workshop — Sat Jan 28, 10 am – 11:30 am – via Zoom
A recording of each virtual workshop will be emailed to everyone who registers. All project activities must take place in the Old Trenton neighborhood. Applicants seeking business development funds must be located in the Old Trenton neighborhood, or must use grant funding to create a new location in the Old Trenton neighborhood. Priority is given to applications from entrepreneurs of color serving the Old Trenton community.
Applicants focused on community improvements may be located outside the neighborhood, but all activities must take place inside Old Trenton and 75% of project beneficiaries must be residents of Old Trenton. Applicants should have a strong familiarity with the neighborhood, the ability to access locations in the neighborhood, and the ability to engage residents.
Isles has partnered with I Am Trenton to run the grant application process. IAT has been raising funds and supporting grassroots efforts across the city since 2007, learn more at www.iamtrenton.org.
