Damage caused by a 6.8 earthquake to the building which now houses Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. photo from nps.gov.

The EBCA has been posting  announcements over the last few years with information on how to be prepared for an emergency, either an earthquake, an extended power outage or even a zombie apocalypse, because you just never know, right?

It’s been pretty quiet in Seattle since the big 6.8 Nisqually quake in 2001 and perhaps you’ve become a bit complacent or just see preparing as a lot of work for something you may never need.  I’ve been somewhat in that camp, and so has my family in Southern California who are now feeling the after-effects of last night’s 5.1 La Habra quake. Luckily everyone’s fine, the power wasn’t off for too long,  and property damage was not too great, but it’s a reminder that the quake could have been worse and that there were opportunities to be better prepared.

So, what better time than right now, to start getting prepared? Here are some resources to help get you started:

We, in East Ballard, are lucky to have Linda Frank in our neighborhood, who is a tireless advocate for our community to get prepared and is a valuable resource to help you organize your block, find classes for you to take and get you involved with the Ballard Neighborhood HUB at Gilman Playground.

If you’re interested in organizing your block taking a class or participating in the May 17th drill at Gilman Playground, please contact Linda at  206-778-3350 or lindabfrank@gmail.com.  She’d loved to hear from you!

Street funds were used to improve crossing and beautification at 14th and NW 58th

The city of Seattle is now accepting proposals to the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund (NPSF) which supports improvements to neighborhood parks and streets proposed by the community. The deadline for applications is February 3, 2014. The NPSF can be used for projects valued up to $90,000.

Examples of park projects include playground improvements, trail upgrades, sport court resurfacing, natural area renovations, and accessibility improvements.

Examples of street projects include crossing improvements such as marked crosswalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian countdown signals; and traffic calming, such as traffic circles and speed feedback signs. The EBCA was awarded street funds, to create the  elevated crosswalk and rain gardens across 14th at NW 58th. The West Woodland community received funds last year to improve the 5-way intersection at 3rd, 56th and 55th. These were all neighborhood initiated projects. What’s your idea? We’d like to hear from you!

To learn more about the fund or to propose a project, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npsf/default.htm. Any individual, neighborhood group, or business group is eligible and encouraged to apply. Please contact the EBCA and we can help you with putting your proposal together.

For additional questions, contact your Neighborhood District Coordinator or Wendy Watson at 206-684-0719.

 

On December 17,  Seattle Department of Neighborhoods announced theNeighborhood Matching Fund opportunities for 2014.

All three funding programs of the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) – Small Sparks, Small and Simple Projects Fund, and the Large Projects Fund – support the efforts of community members as they work on projects to build stronger neighborhoods and communities.

The NMF program has staff to advise community groups on ways to develop successful applications and projects. Community members are strongly encouraged to contact a Neighborhood Matching Fund Project Manager before applying at 206-233-0093 or NMFund@seattle.gov.

 

Small Sparks Fund

The Small Sparks Fund which provides awards of up to $1,000 per project accepts applications year-round at least six weeks prior to the proposed project implementation date. This is great funding opportunity for implementing small community projects as well as supporting efforts such as Neighbor Appreciation Day, National Night Out, Earth Day, and others.

 

Small and Simple Projects Fund

The Small and Simple Projects Fund which provides awards of up to $25,000 has three opportunities to apply. The deadlines for applications are February 3, June 2, and October 6, 2014. For those interested in applying in February, NMF staff is hosting workshops about the guidelines and application process. The dates are as follows:

• Saturday, January 11; 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.at Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry Street
• Tuesday, January 14; 6 – 8 p.m.at Ravenna Community Center, 6535 Ravenna Ave NE
• Thursday, January 23; 6 – 8 p.m. at Rainier Community Center, 4600 38^th Ave S

 

To RSVP, call  206-733-9916 or go online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMFWorkshop. Childcare and interpreters can be arranged for workshop participants who RSVP and request these services at least 72 hours in advance. Additional workshops will be offered prior to each Small and Simple Fund application deadline in 2014.

Large Projects Fund

The Large Projects Fund (LPF) which awards up to $100,000 per project is open to applications once a year. The deadline is May 5, 2014. It is mandatory for interested community groups to attend one of the six LPF workshops offered before applying. The workshops will be provided on February 20, 25; March 20, 25; and April 8 and 10, 2014. More details on times and locations will be available on our website in January.

To learn more about the Neighborhood Matching Fund and its support to community-initiated projects, visit www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf. The website provides details on the criteria and requirements for each fund, along with instructions for the online application process.

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods provides programs and services that engage residents in civic participation, foster stronger communities, make government more accessible, and preserve and enhance the character of Seattle’s neighborhoods. 

Neighbor Appreciation Day is Seattle’s annual recognition of great neighbors. Celebrate by planning an activity in your neighborhood. It might be eligible for the Small Sparks Fund, which supports projects that connect and engage people in Seattle communities.

Some Community Project Ideas:

·       Neighborhood Clean-up
·       Emergency Preparedness Training
·       Community Resource Fair
·       Sporting and Recreational event
·       Arts and Cultural Sharing

 Small Sparks application for Neighbor Appreciation Day are due January 8, 2014.

For Neighbor Appreciation Day information and ideas, visit Seattle.gov/neighborhoods/neighborday
For information about the Small Sparks Fund, visit Seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf