City Seeks New Ideas, Proposals for Community Enhancement Program Funding
October 12, 2020 – The City is calling on residents and community stakeholders to share their big ideas to make Wilsonville an even better place.
Each year, the Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Program provides funding for a wide array of community-led projects that meet the program criteria. The time is now to generate ideas for new proposals; project nominations are accepted from Nov. 2 to Jan. 29.
The Community Enhancement Committee is inviting people to share their ideas on an “ideas board” at LetsTalkWilsonville.com. City staff are monitoring the ideas to see what projects might be feasible to pursue with up to $75,000 in funds estimated to be available in the next funding cycle.
Community Enhancement Projects must meet at least one of the following goals established by Metro and the City to qualify for funding consideration:
- Improve the appearance or environmental quality of the community.
- Reduce the amount or toxicity of waste.
- Increase reuse and recycling opportunities.
- Result in rehabilitation or upgrade of real or personal property owned or operated by a nonprofit organization.
- Result in the preservation or enhancement of wildlife, riparian zones, wetlands, forestlands and marine areas, and/or improve the public awareness and the opportunities to enjoy them.
- Result in improvement to, or an increase in, recreational areas and programs.
- Result in improvement in safety.
- Benefit youth, seniors, low income persons or underserved populations
Those interested in pursuing funding for a Community Enhancement project are invited to attend one of six virtual information sessions this year at noon and 6 pm on Oct. 15 and Nov. 18. Each session is accessible on zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88014890847 .
Applications are being accepted from Nov. 2– Jan. 29, providing potential applicants with plenty of time to prepare their proposals and meet with staff for a pre-application meeting. All applications must be submitted on the City of Wilsonville’s website by 5 pm on Jan. 29, 2021.
The Wilsonville-Metro Community Enhancement Committee, which includes the Mayor, a City Councilor, four appointed community members and a Metro Councilor, reviews project proposals and announces award recipients in early spring.
Through this program, the City has advanced a significant number of community projects, including the Art and Culture Survey and Strategic Plan, Beauty and the Bridge Interpretive Signs, the Graham Oaks Nature Park Pedestrian Safety Crossing, the Community Reader Board and Wilsonville Public Library Signage, the 2017 Community Health Fair, the Clackamas Community College-Wilsonville Campus Public Art Project, and many others.
The City receives $1 from Metro for every ton of wet waste processed in Wilsonville at Republic Services. These Community Enhancement Funds are re-invested in local community improvement projects that are nominated and led by individuals, businesses, non-profits and/or City staff.
To learn more about the Community Enhancement Program contact Zoe Monahan, Assistant to the City Manager at 503-570-1503 or monahan@ci.wilsonville.or.us.
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