Redevelopment Economy Development CDBG Housing Public Finance

Redevelopment Programs

Community Group Funding Program

Background

In 1997, the Bay Point Redevelopment Project Area Committee approved the use of $20,000 in redevelopment funds to launch the first year of the Community Group Funding Program. The Program provides an opportunity for volunteers to assist in the revitalization of the Bay Point community and the removal of blight within the Redevelopment Project Area.

Goals of the Program

  1. Support neighborhood beautification projects to eliminate blight in the Bay Point Redevelopment Project; and
  2. Foster sense of community and pride among the local residents.

The Redevelopment Agency provides funding for the materials for the project, and pay the volunteer group for the total number of hours that their members are able to devote to the project. The volunteer group can then use the funds they raise to support other local activities.

Projects must be proposed by recognized, local, non-profit service and/or service organizations. Organizations with tax-exempt status are preferred but not required.

Following are examples of how the program might work:

Example 1: A local neighborhood association decides to contact senior citizens on limited incomes to help them with yard clean up and house painting. They approach the Redevelopment Agency with a description of their program and an estimate of the cost for materials and volunteer hours to be provided. The Bay Point Project Area Committee approves the project for redevelopment assistance. The Redevelopment Agency will provide the neighborhood association the money needed to purchase the materials for the home improvement project. Upon completion of the project, the neighborhood association submits a list of the volunteer hours spent on the project. The Agency pays the neighborhood organization for the total hours spent on the project and the neighborhood organization now have funds to pay for setting up their community garden.

Example 2: Students at the local high school decide to plant some trees in front of their school, with the School District's permission. Working with an approved school club at the high school, they approach the Agency to receive funding for the tree planting project, and provide an estimated budget for materials and volunteer hours. The Agency provides the group with the funding to purchase the materials. Upon completion of the project, the club provides a listing of the hours worked by the students and the club receives funds for their activities.

These are some of the activities that volunteer groups could perform to assist the redevelopment effort. Other projects might include: landscaping in public areas, graffiti removal, and community clean up projects.

Program Guidelines

  1. All volunteer projects must be within the Bay Point Redevelopment Project Area.
  2. All projects must be for physical improvements.
  3. Groups proposing projects must be recognized local, non-profit service and/or youth organizations, preferably with tax-exempt status.
  4. Groups must submit a written application for each project, which will include the following information:
    1. Description of project and who benefits from the project.
    2. Individual(s) responsible for managing/supervising the project.
    3. Time line for starting and completing the project. (Applicants will be required to submit before and after pictures of the project.)
    4. Budget for materials.
    5. Estimate of volunteer hours.
    6. Necessary approvals from other agencies, if required.
    7. How the funds received from volunteer hours will be utilized in the community by the volunteer group.
  5. Redevelopment Agency staff will review the application and route the application to other departments for review and comment, as needed.
  6. Upon approval of Agency staff, the community group would purchase the materials for the project. Original receipts must be submitted to the Agency for reimbursement.
  7. When the project is completed, Redevelopment Staff will review the project. The community group would submit a list of volunteer hours spent on the project. The Agency will reimburse the community group at the rate of $5.00 per volunteer hour.
  8. The Agency would set the maximum number of hours and materials that the Agency would spend on any specific project.

Funding for this program is on a first-come basis, and there is no deadline for submittal of applications by community groups. Once the initial $20,000 is committed, the Bay Point Redevelopment Project Area Committee will consider providing additional funding for this program.

For more information on the program, please call Maureen Toms (mtoms@cd.co.contra-costa.ca.us), Redevelopment Project Manager, at (925) 335-1250 at the Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency.