PHILADELPHIA – December 30, 2023 – Today Senator Sharif Street, announced over $2.6M in Philadelphia Neighborhood Assistance Program Grants that will improve the quality of life for communities throughout the Third Senate District which includes North Philadelphia, Brewrytown, Nicetown, Lower Germantown, Logan, Olney, Fern Rock, Crescentville, East Oak Lane, East Wyoming, East Hunting Park, Francisville, Lawncrest, Melrose Park Garden, Spring Garden and Fairmount.
“As we approach the new year, I’m proud to announce community grants that will continue to improve lives,” said Senator Street. “whether we’re fighting food insecurity, meeting housing needs, or building safer communities, it is our responsibility to not only meet people’s immediate needs, but to ensure investments that will chart a path to success and sustainability for our communities into the future.”
The following organizations received a total of $2,678,572 in NAP Grant Funding:
Philabundance $1,511,347
Philabundance will incentivize food donations from grocery stores, produce markets, and other food industry donors. These donations will be distributed to low- and very-low-food-security residents within Philabundance’ s service area in Pennsylvania. Philabundance fights food insecurity by strategically distributing food through a network of over 300 community partners.
LISC $55,000
Financial Opportunity Centers serve residents living in Eastern North Philadelphia communities which experience some of the highest poverty rates in our city. Over the next year, with support from LISC, APM and HACE project to achieve services delivery outcomes that include : financial literacy, 100 clients will increase their monthly net income and 50 clients will purchase a home.
RAIR, Inc. (Recycled Artist In Residency) $27,500
The project will empower low-income individuals living in the underserved neighborhoods of West, Southwest and North Philadelphia to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. Glover Gardens will support 30 families participating, design and build a garden bed to each household’s specifications, install the garden beds, train each family on how to grow and maintain their gardens and provide up to three follow up maintenance sessions for each household.
Project HOME $317,600
Project HOME is committed to ending and preventing homelessness and poverty in the City of Philadelphia and has undertaken an economic development initiative targeting Lower North Philadelphia, in particular the St. Elizabeth’s/Diamond Street community.
Nueva Esperanza, Inc. $280,000
Esperanza will renovate and transfer 4 housing units into their community land trust, while continuing the transformation of the Hunting Park neighborhood through community outreach, block beautification, and
installation of bench planters.
Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania $63,750
This project will support AHCOPA’s housing counseling activity for counselors facing mortgage foreclosure. AHCOPA currently staffs housing counselors that are capable of delivering mortgage foreclosure counseling services and will be bringing on additional counselors to support the increased foreclosure activity in the region.
Project HOME $371,250
The proposed project includes interior renovations of the Stephen Klein Wellness Center located in North Philly and primary serves low-income families. The project will include infrastructure and facility improvements.
Temple University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education $37,500
The Small Business Development Center will create a tax & accounting clinic designed to help local businesses identify and address accounting challenges, ensuring a planned, incentivized approach to tax compliance. This will open the door to opportunities, like grants and federal relief, previously closed to income zip codes in the North Philadelphia neighborhood.
Greater Philadelphia YMCA $14,625
The YMCA’s Y Achievers program is an academic achievement/career development initiative designed to help youth set and pursue high educational and career goals, bridging high school students to their first jobs. This project will encourage youth to set and achieve high personal and professional goals for self-sustaining employment, help youth create a network of positive relationships and create avenues for local universities and employers to connect with Achievers and invest in workforce diversification across the region. The project will serve 100 youth in North and West Philadelphia.
Neighborhood Assistance Program grants are administered by the PA Department of Community & Economic and Development. Learn more about these programs here.
###