Deadline: 16 October 2015
The Project for Public Spaces is inviting applicants for the 2016 Southwest Airlines Heart of the community grant program to encourage more connections on the ground and to help residents feel a sense of ownership in the places they share. This community-driven program has supported the activation of public spaces in cities across the country, from Portland, Maine, to San Antonio, Texas.
Heart of the Community is Southwest Airlines’ multi-year program dedicated to revitalizing and activating public spaces in the hearts of cities in partnership with the pioneering nonprofit organization behind Placemaking, Project for Public Spaces (PPS). The Heart of the Community program provides direct grants and technical assistance to local community partners to bring new life to their public spaces.
Grant Information
Total values of the grants have range between $100,000 and $200,000.
Objectives
- Help communities across the country bring new life to their public spaces, transforming them into vibrant places that connect people and strengthen communities
- Raise mainstream awareness of Placemaking as a defined social cause and a catalyst for building sustainable, healthy, inclusive and economically viable communities
- Encourage participation and volunteerism that benefits public spaces in local communities.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant organization should be directly involved in management of the project site or have the capacity to collaborate with the necessary civic partners to implement the project. Applicants must either own the property proposed for the project, or have a formal agreement with the property owner that entitles them to use the site—in which case the property owner must be cited as a committed partner in the application.
- Prior applicants have included business improvement districts, universities, park “friends” groups, foundations, conservancies, arts organizations, libraries, and many more.
- Projects must be in or near a city served by Southwest Airlines. Proposed projects in a city or metro region that has already received a Heart of the Community grant are not eligible to apply at this time.
- Location is a factor in selection: the core of the principal city of the region will receive preference. Projects undertaken have largely been in underutilized spaces in downtowns or other core neighborhoods and destinations. The project scope tends to have the greatest impact in these areas, which draw diverse users and programming partners from around the city and region.
How to Apply
Applicants may apply via the official website, mentioned below.
For more information, please visit Heart of the Community Grant .
