Lansing Joins National Initiative to Fund Neighborhood Projects

Lansing has been selected as one of 25 local governments nationwide to join the Love Your Block initiative, securing $70,000 for resident-led neighborhood improvement projects. The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University leads the national program, which pairs municipal grants with expert support and a dedicated fellow.

Lansing Secures $70,000 Grant for Neighborhood Projects

The City of Lansing will use the funding to support community-driven efforts like clearing vacant lots and reclaiming public spaces. Mayor Andy Schor stated that the city’s Department of Neighborhoods, Arts, and Citizen Engagement helped guide the application process. The initiative aims to bring residents directly into local problem-solving while strengthening ties between municipal government and the neighborhoods it serves, the city reported.

Lansing joins a cohort of cities in the newest round of the program that includes Albuquerque, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Honolulu, Jersey City, Mobile, Newark, and Tulsa. Since its inception in 2009, Love Your Block has partnered with 50 local governments and more than 88,000 residents across 33 states.

Program Impact and Community Cleanup History

Participating communities have removed millions of pounds of trash, cleaned graffiti, created public art, and transformed shared public spaces since the program started, according to the City of Lansing’s announcement. The initiative relies on residents taking the lead on local blocks to identify and fix localized issues.

Next Steps for Lansing Neighborhood Fellows

Lansing will receive a dedicated Love Your Block Fellow to assist with project execution alongside the $70,000 in funding. City officials have not yet announced the specific timeline for when neighborhood application windows will open for resident groups or when the first projects will break ground.