City of Bloomington Awards Seven Neighborhood Improvement Grants

The City of Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) is pleased to announce seven recipients of the 2026 Neighborhood Improvement Grant. A total of $30,000 in grant funds were awarded in a competitive application process for the following neighborhood-driven projects:

Bentley Court HOA ($8,000) — Funding will support Phase 2 of their Wildlife Corridor project, transforming a half-acre into a green space with native plants, bird boxes, and educational signage to support local biodiversity.

Bloomington Housing Authority Residents Council ($6,550) — The Walnut Woods Community Pantry will receive a makeover to create a large-capacity storage area for food, hygiene, and household items for the community.

Gentry Estates HOA ($3,000) — This grant will replace three deteriorating and unsafe mailbox clusters and their associated concrete pads.

Gentry Honours HOA ($2,600) — Funds will be used to refurbish and repair two existing neighborhood entrance signs that have physically deteriorated.

Prospect Hill Neighborhood Assoc ($4,000)— This project supports headstone restoration in Rose Hill Cemetery, including professional restoration for large monuments and volunteer workshops.

Sherwood Green HOA ($3,500) — Outdated and faded private street signs will be replaced with new, reflective, and City-compliant street signs, and wayfinding signs will be added to enhance safety and visibility.

Spicewood 2 Neighborhood ($2,350) — A vacant, overgrown lot will be cleaned up and transformed into a native pollinator garden for the neighborhood to enjoy.

 Offered annually, the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program is designed to enhance the quality of life within neighborhoods, by empowering residents to address local needs while creating lasting community benefits. Applications are reviewed by a five-member council, made up of two at-large neighborhood association members, two City staffers, and one commissioner from the Redevelopment Commission (RDC). The council makes funding recommendations to the RDC, who ultimately determines the allocation of funds.

Thank you to this year’s council for their careful and thoughtful consideration of the grant applications: 

• Tom Payne, Near West Side Neighborhood Association
• Kaleb Throckmorton, Matlock Heights Neighborhood Association
• Maria McCormick, Engineering
• Danna Stephens, Public Works, Street and Traffic Division
• Laurie McRobbie, Redevelopment Commission

For more information about this and other grant programs for Bloomington neighborhoods, please visit bton.in/NHood  or contact Angela Van Rooy, HAND Operations Manager at [email protected] or 812-349-3505.