The City of Germantown has a program to support neighborhood leaders as they engage their neighbors, beautify their surroundings, improve resident communications and increase a sense of well-being in their neighborhoods.

To that end, Germantown’s Neighborhood Grants Program supports Germantown homeowner and neighborhood associations by providing grants up to $5,000 for projects that fall under one of the following categories:

• Engagement: Projects that bring neighbors together for fellowship and recreation
  Examples: Block/cove parties, movie nights, food trucks, face painting, youth projects, neighborhood festivals, etc.

• Communications: Projects that increase the effectiveness of neighborhood organizations
  Examples: Website development, newsletter development, flyers, printing costs, mailers, association establishment, leadership training for neighborhood leaders, etc.

• Beautification: Projects that enhance or improve public areas
  Examples: Holiday decorations, common area landscaping, neighborhood art projects, HOA/entry signs, gardening supplies, decorative street sign funds, etc. Any projects that involve significant landscaping, grading, tree removal, structures (such as pergolas, fences, arbors, etc.) or new paving/concrete must first be approved by the City before they can be eligible for a grant.

• Safety: Projects that increase a sense of safety and well-being
  Examples: Germantown Night Out, health and wellness seminars, spotlights, Neighborhood Watch awareness, emergency preparedness, Flock (license plate reading) cameras, etc.

Award Amounts

• At least two maximum awards of $5,000 each will be awarded per grant period. 

• Additional microgrants ranging from $500 to $1,000 will be awarded until the allotted $25,000 per fiscal year has been reached. 

Eligibility

• Applying neighborhood organizations must be established with elected leaders and bylaws.

  • If you have questions about your neighborhood’s eligibility, contact Community Engagement Coordinator Erinn Figg at EFigg@Germantown-TN.gov or 901-757-7203.

• Applicants must submit an IRS W-9 form with their application.

• Applications are due Monday, May 4, by 5 p.m. Late applications will not be considered.

Program Requirements

• Applications must be legible; typed is appreciated.

• Only one grant application per neighborhood association will be accepted.

• Grants must be used for public purposes only. 

• Proposals must be drafted and approved by the neighborhood or homeowners association.

• All grant funds must be used by June 30, 2027.

• The association must provide receipts after the project or event. Any unused funds must be returned to the City.

• If the grant is used for an event, the event must be documented with photos and a sign-in sheet.

• The event must take place within the designated neighborhood.

• Events must be free of charge and open to everyone without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law.

• All receipts and documentation must be returned to the City within 30 days of the project or event’s completion.

• Grant funds may not be used to purchase weapons or alcohol.

Judging Criteria

A committee will evaluate applications on a score of 10 to 100 using a rubric based on the following characteristics:

• Category Eligibility (10 Points): The project addresses engagement, communications, beautification or safety.

• Project Scope and Goals (50 points): The proposed project addresses the specific needs of the neighborhood and/or the neighborhood association. Include examples of how it would benefit the neighborhood as a whole, including the approximate number of residents that would benefit from it. Discuss the extent to which it is creative or consists of a resourceful solution to a neighborhood concern.* Additionally, please include indications of measurable goals (for example, attendance, positive feedback, a finished product, etc.).
  
  *Any projects that involve significant landscaping, grading, tree removal, structures (such as pergolas, fences, arbors, etc.) or new paving/concrete must first be approved by the City before they can be eligible for a grant. For these projects,  evidence of this approval is required and should be uploaded here.

• Plan of Operation (30 points): How will the association implement the proposed project? This can include a timeline, construction phases (if applicable), assistance from vendors and neighborhood volunteers, special committees, etc.

• Budget and Financial Accountability (10 points): How will the association complete the proposed project with the allotted dollar amount? Provide a line-item budget detailing what you plan to purchase, along with the use and cost of each item.

How to Apply

• Applications are available here.

• Applications can be submitted via the above Google form, emailed to efigg@germantown-tn.gov or mailed to or dropped off at City of Germantown, c/o Erinn Figg, 1930 S. Germantown Rd., Germantown, TN 38138.

• Again, grant applications are due Monday, May 4, by 5 p.m. Late applications will not be considered.

• Grant recipients will be notified by Friday, May 29.

Schedule for Grant Application Evaluation and Awards

Note: The City reserves the right to adjust this schedule as it deems necessary, at its sole  discretion. 

Contact Information

For questions or further information, please contact Community Engagement Coordinator Erinn Figg at EFigg@Germantown-TN.gov or 901-757-7203.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Download Acrobat Reader Download Windows Media Player Download Word Viewer Download Excel Viewer Download PowerPoint Viewer