Gary Storm for Urbana City Council

Initiative: Provide a City "Matching Grants Program" to encourage the development of a wide range of neighborhood/community improvement projects. These might include a number of projects described above, and they could be organized through existing clubs or organizations (often nonprofit) or through new grassroots associations (often cooperative), but with financial help from the City, perhaps on a declining basis over several years until the activities can become self sustaining.

• Child Care Cooperatives
• School- or Public Housing-based Health and Social Services
• School- or Public Housing-based Community Centers
• Community Gardens
• Neighborhood/Community Beautification Projects
• Recycling Projects
• Mini-Parks and Playgrounds
• Workshops and Tool Exchanges
• Reading/Discussion Groups
• Political and/or Debate Clubs
• Athletic and/or Sports Clubs
• Civic Organizations
• Monthly Neighborhood/Community Forums to identify and discuss issues and problems
• Arts Organizations (different media)