Neighbors can submit projects to improve westside neighborhoods through Long Beach’s second round of Love Your Block mini grants.
In its second year, Love Your Block will once again support the City’s Westside Promise Initiative, a 10-year community investment plan to address current and historic challenges facing West Long Beach. This year’s focus is transportation efficiency and clean air, and projects should reduce exposure to poor indoor and outdoor air quality; promote clean air education, behavior and tools; enhance pedestrian, bicycle and rolling safety; and build community capacity to advocate for street and environmental improvements.
As part of this effort, the Love Your Block program will provide mini-grants of up to $2,500 for resident-led projects, empowering community members to take action and create lasting positive change in their neighborhoods. The previous five selected Love Your Block projects included Legacy in Bloom, Breath of Fresh Air, Community Bee Apiary, Westside Clean & Green and a community garden.
“As Long Beach continues to invest in resident-driven solutions, Love Your Block plays a vital role in fostering collaboration between local government and community members,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “By providing mini-grants and hands-on support, the program helps residents transform public spaces, strengthen neighborhood connections and build pride in their communities. Thank you to the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University for making this initiative possible.”
Applicants must be Long Beach residents ages 18 or older and propose projects within the 90810 zip code. Nonprofits and businesses can support projects with donations, volunteers or materials. Eligible residents, especially those living in West Long Beach, interested in applying for a mini-grant can learn more and fill out an application online in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at lbcity.info/LYB-MiniGrantApp now through Tuesday, March 31.
Community members interested in supporting these projects by volunteering for a community work day, a resident-led day of action where neighbors, volunteers and City staff come together to implement selected projects, can complete a volunteer interest form at lbcity.info/VolunteerLYB. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and have a passion for addressing issues impacting residents, especially in West Long Beach.
Originally launched in 2009 by Cities of Service, Love Your Block is a signature initiative of the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. The nationwide program strengthens civic engagement and provides direct support to residents tackling neighborhood challenges.
“Through our Westside Promise, we are creating lasting, meaningful change for our West Long Beach community,” said Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga in a public statement. “The Love Your Block program supports this initiative by addressing issues such as air quality and transportation, fostering relationships among neighbors and uplifting our entire community.”
Since its inception, Love Your Block has positively impacted nearly 50,000 residents across the country who have improved nearly 4,000 public spaces–creating nearly 800 art displays, cleaning 102,000 square feet of graffiti, and removing 6.7 million pounds of trash in cities nationwide. A total of 50 cities across 33 states have received support through the program.
Additionally, a 2021 study by the Urban Institute found that cities participating in Love Your Block were able to strengthen social cohesion among residents, increase civic participation and build stronger relationships with community members, leading to greater trust in local government.
Submit your project for the Love Your Block program through the online application now through March 31.
