The funds are awarded on the basis of merit, with a maximum of $5,000 available per project.

Who may apply?
Two or more individuals, from separate households and living within the city limits of Redmond, may submit an application with their project idea. All projects will be required to have a Citizen Project Coordinator (either individual or group) to be the liaison between the City and the neighborhood during project development and implementation.

Single businesses, city-wide organizations, social services, fraternal and religious groups, and public agencies are not eligible as applicants. However, eligible applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with these ineligible groups to plan and implement projects. The eligible applicant must retain the primary role in the partnership. Political groups are not eligible for matching funds.

How do I apply?
Eligible individuals interested in participating in the Neighborhood Matching Fund must fill out and submit an application to Neighborhood Matching Fund Coordinator, 4SPL, P.O. Box 97010, Redmond, WA 98073-9710. The application form is available in Adobe Acrobat format. In order to view or print the application you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. (Obtain free Acrobat Reader).

CONTACT:  Sarah Stiteler
EMAIL:  sstiteler@redmond.gov
PHONE:  425-556-2469

What kinds of projects are eligible?
To be eligible, projects must:

The six project categories, with examples of possible projects, are:

How are projects evaluated?
Decisions regarding successful applications for the Neighborhood Match Fund are made by a committee of public officials. The committee will review each application and make the awards based on the criteria listed below.

Quality of the Project. The project is clearly understood, well planned, and ready to proceed. There is a demonstrated need for the project. The budget is reasonable, cost-effective, and within the scope of this fund.

Neighborhood Match. The match meets the minimum requirement, is secured and is ready to be expended.

Neighborhood Participation and Benefit. A significant number of people will be involved in and will benefit from the project. The project is not controversial nor does it have neighborhood opposition. The project creates opportunities for self-help. Diverse interests are involved.

During the evaluation process, emphasis will be placed on projects that provide the neighborhood with a lasting physical improvement. Before the award is given, the applicant and the City must agree on the terms of the project to assure the City that the award will provide a public benefit and is not a gift of public funds. All applications are rated using this criteria.

How does the Neighborhood Matching Fund work?
The Neighborhood Matching funds will be awarded on the basis of merit, with a maximum of $5,000 available per project.

For every dollar requested from the Matching Fund, the neighborhood must identify match items that add up to equal the value of the amount requested. So, if $1,000 is requested from the City, then at least $1,000 of match must be proposed (and provided when the application is approved).

Match items can be donated professional services, donated materials or supplies, volunteer labor, or cash. The best way to identify match items is to look over a list of all the resources needed to complete the project and decide which items can be provided by donors in the neighborhood.

Professional services and skilled labor who donate their services as part of the neighborhood match cannot also receive compensation from the City's match money. This is intended to ensure that persons hired to provide services or skilled labor are selected on the basis of their qualifications, experience, and fees, not on their willingness (or inability) to donate services.

Basic Requirements for Developing a Neighborhood Match Package

• The value of the neighborhood's match must equal or exceed the amount requested from the Neighborhood Matching Fund.
• The amount and type of match must be appropriate to the the project needs.
• The proposed match must be expended during the life of the project - not prior to or after completion.
• Assistance from City staff or funds from elsewhere in the City cannot be counted as match.
• Time spent preparing the Neighborhood Matching Fund application or fundraising cannot be counted as match.
• All volunteer labor is valued at $17.00 an hour.
• Professional services, if needed for the project, are valued at the "reasonable and customary rate" prevailing in the community. If professional services are donated, they are valued at $30.00 per hour.
• Neighborhood match must be not only pledged, but also secured. Secured means that the donor has specifically described the contribution and has signed the Match Pledged/Secured Form (attached to the application packet) to confirm the commitment.

Who is responsible for project maintenance?
If maintenance is required, a maintenance agreement may be required by the City. The Citizen Project Coordinator will be required to ensure that the project be maintained.

What is the timeline for project approval through completion?
Reviewing applications, making approval decisions, and working out the project details with the neighborhoods takes time.

Successful applicants will be notified approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the neighborhood Matching Fund Coordinator has received a properly completed application. Authorization to begin the project will be given after a contract with the neighborhood has been successfully executed (approximately 4 weeks). The neighborhood then has up to 12 months to implement the project.