(COLUMBIA, MO) ~ Columbia, MO - The City of Columbia has recently announced the winners of the first round of mini-grants for their Love Your Block grant program. This resident-led initiative aims to revitalize neighborhoods through small-scale projects that have a lasting impact on the community.

The program received an overwhelming response with 35 applications from dedicated residents and community groups. These proposals offered creative solutions to address local challenges and work together with the City to improve neighborhoods and public spaces.

Out of these applications, 12 projects were selected that reflect a strong commitment to community pride, neighborhood beautification, and civic engagement in central Columbia. The winning projects include a variety of initiatives such as new awnings for Centro Latino de Salud's building at 609 N. Garth St., new signage for multiple community gardens by the Community Garden Coalition, and exterior improvements at Coyote Hill's new location in cooperation with ForColumbia.

Other winning projects include converting an empty lot into a community space with a bench and gardens by Flower Folk LLC, neighborhood work in the North Central Neighborhood by ForColumbia, building a fence around JobPoint's dumpster and personalizing it with a student-designed mural through their Opportunity in Bloom project, and funding enhancements such as bike racks, signage, planters, and benches at City-owned lots on Garth and Sexton by Local Motion.

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Meg Gibson Glass will use their grant to create glass mosaics with residents of the Benton-Stephens neighborhood and those staying at Harbor House through their Words with Neighbors project. The Noble Court Neighborhood Watch Group will use their grant to recognize the history of Noble Court as the first Black neighborhood in Columbia through signage. Raquel Young's Care Cupboards project will distribute free feminine products in cooperation with non-profits and businesses in the central city.

The Ridgeway Neighborhood Association will use their grant for tree planting at City-owned lots on Sexton near Garth while West Ash Community Compost will use their grant to establish a neighborhood compost system.

The City is already planning for another round of Love Your Block mini-grants to be distributed in fiscal year 2026, which starts on October 1, 2025. This program, powered by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, brings city leaders and residents together to build stronger neighborhoods, one block at a time.

Residents who are interested in learning more about the Love Your Block program in Columbia or volunteering to support local projects can visit www.CoMo.gov/volunteer or call Volunteer Programs at 573.874.7499. This program is a great opportunity for residents to get involved and make a positive impact in their community.

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