Building a Beautiful Detroit: City announces 94 Neighborhood Beautification Program winners, open next application round, and launch Stellantis Impact Neighborhood Fund

Mayor Mike Duggan today joined city officials and community leaders to celebrate the Round 5 winners of the City of Detroit's Neighborhood Beautification Program (NBP), the opening of the Round 6 application period, and the introduction of the new Stellantis Impact Neighborhood Fund.

Since its launch in 2021, the Neighborhood Beautification Program has provided grants to block clubs, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations across the city to create community gardens, improve public spaces, and launch neighborhood programming. The initiative has supported more than 200 grassroots-led projects, strengthening Detroit's neighborhoods block by block.

Round 5 Winners Announced

Round 5 of the NBP awarded grants totaling $1.15m to 94 community organizations across Detroit, the largest group of awardees since the program launched. Some winning projects include:

• No Earth Wasted Living Ecological Awareness Farm or N.E.W. L.E.A.F (located in District 1): constructing an outdoor education space focusing on sustainable food systems, climate change adaptation, and natural wellness.
• S&D PJ Housing (located in District 3): cleaning alleys by removing trash, weeds, and debris, creating a safer and more inviting space for the community and fostering pride and environmental awareness.
• AboutFaceDetroit (located in District 5): transforming a neglected lot into a vibrant community garden with seating, ornamental trees and bushes, and walkable pathways and using sustainable practices to support biodiversity and manage stormwater.

The full list of winners can be found here.

"The Neighborhood Beautification Program is where residents get to tell us what they'd like to see done with land in their community, and then we provide them the support they need to make it happen," said Mayor Duggan. "Every round of this program shows us how much pride Detroiters take in their neighborhoods."

"Detroit's neighborhoods are filled with residents and organizations who have incredible visions for their blocks, and the Neighborhood Beautification Program is about giving them the resources to bring those visions to life," said Tamra Fountaine Hardy, Director of Neighborhood Services & Economic Development Divisions at Detroit's Housing & Revitalization Department. "From community gardens to pocket parks to youth programming, every grant builds not only a more beautiful city but also stronger connections between neighbors."

Mayor Duggan and other community leaders gathered at the George Preston Community Park on the corner of E. State Fair and Anvil Ave. in Detroit's Mohican Regent Neighborhood. The park, once a vacant lot and dumping site, was transformed by members of the Mohican Regent Neighborhood Association. The park was funded in part by a Neighborhood Beautification Program grant. George Preston, president of the Mohican Regent Residents Association says this community space wouldn't be possible without support from the city, and the dozens of dedicated neighbors who transformed the once blighted lot into a community space that can be enjoyed for years to come.

"On behalf of the Mohican Regent community, I want to sincerely thank Mayor Duggan, the Detroit City Council, and the City of Detroit for making the Neighborhood Beautification Program possible," said George Preston. "Their investment gave us the opportunity to turn what was once a vacant and blighted lot into a place where families can gather, children can play, and neighbors can connect. Most importantly, I want to thank the residents of the Mohican Regent neighborhood whose hard work and dedication transformed this space into the George Preston Community Park. This park is a true reflection of what we can accomplish when the city and community work hand in hand."

The NBP is part of the Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF), which was championed by Council President Mary Sheffield as part of the development deal for the Detroit Pistons' new headquarters and training facility in District 5. NIF dollars are derived from the net income tax revenue collected from NBA players' salaries during home games played at Little Caesars Arena and the salaries of Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment employees.

"As the author of the Neighborhood Improvement Fund, it has been deeply rewarding to see how these resources are being used to uplift and transform our neighborhoods," said City Council President Mary Sheffield. "The Neighborhood Beautification Program is proof that when we invest directly in our residents, they create projects that reflect the pride, creativity, and resilience of Detroit. I'm excited to see the continued growth of this initiative and proud that the Stellantis Impact Neighborhood Fund will further expand opportunities for residents to shape the future of their communities."

Round 6 Applications Now Open

Applications are now being accepted for Round 6 of the Neighborhood Beautification Program. Eligible organizations-including block clubs, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, and faith-based groups-may apply for grants ranging from $500 to $15,000. Grants can be used for:

• Physical improvement projects (gardens, parks, clean-up activities, public art, etc.)
• Community programming (youth activities, health and safety workshops, cultural events, etc.)
• Neighborhood capacity building (training, workshops, skill development for local leaders)

"When we invest in the beauty of our neighborhoods, we invest in the people who call them home," said Christopher Hicks, Department Director of Programs at Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. "It is more than a community project - It is a promise to each other that we care, we belong, and we believe in the future we're creating together."

Applications are open now through Friday, October 24 and can be submitted at waynemetro.org/neighborhood-beautification-grant/.

Introducing the Stellantis Impact Neighborhood Fund

This year, the City also announced the launch of the Stellantis Impact Neighborhood Fund, a dedicated investment to support community-led projects within the Stellantis Community Benefits (CBO) Impact Area on Detroit's far east side.

The fund was created in 2019 as part of the Community Benefits Agreement for the construction of the Stellantis (formerly FCA) Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack plant and shaped through extensive resident engagement during the Greater Warren/Conner Neighborhood Framework planning process.

Through this partnership, $198,000 will be distributed to support 20-40 projects, with grants between $5,000 and $10,000. Eligible applicants and projects must be located within the Stellantis CBO Impact Area, which spans portions of City Council District 4 bounded by I-94, Conner, Gratiot, E. Jefferson, and the Detroit River.

Stellantis Fund grants may be used for:

• Physical improvements: community gardens, public space enhancements, neighborhood clean-ups
• Programming and learning: gardening education, fitness, life skills, community safety, climate resilience, and more.

"Stellantis is proud to once again partner with the city as it begins the roll out of the Neighborhood Beautification program to support community projects in the Chandler Park, West End and Riverbend neighborhoods," said Christine Estereicher, Vice President of Public Affairs, Stellantis North America. "Detroit has been our home for more than 100 years. When we made the decision to build the first new assembly plant in Detroit in more than 30 years, we listened to the community and provided significant funding for neighborhood beautification. The projects that benefit from the grants announced today will be great additions to the many beautification initiatives that Stellantis has previously supported, and we look forward to seeing them come to life."

In addition to the Stellantis Impact Neighborhood Fund, Stellantis also announced the $3.3 million Home Repair Fund in 2024 to help residents in the immediate vicinity of the Mack Assembly Plant with much-needed home repairs. By directly supporting homeowners, the Home Repair Fund will help stabilize long-time residents, improve housing quality, and strengthen the neighborhoods surrounding the plant.

Pictured above: the George Preston Community Park, once a vacant lot Pictured above: the neighborhood education pavilion on the corner of Kercheval Avenue and Beniteau Street, near the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack plant.

Organizations in the Stellantis Impact Area may apply for both NBP citywide funding and Stellantis funding but must propose separate projects and demonstrate the ability to manage both. Applications for both programs are available through waynemetro.org/neighborhood-beautification-grant/

Resources & Assistance for applicants

Neighborhood Beautification Program staff are available to answer questions about the application during NBP Office Hours, as well as during information sessions.

You can find those business hours and register for a session at the Neighborhood Beautification Program's website.