PHILADELPHIA, PA (July 19, 2024) Today, Clean Air Council announced a round of mini-grant funding for Cobbs Creek area community groups. The Council is offering $1,000 and $2,000 dollar grants for civic groups, educators, and organizations to grow or offer new programming and activities that increase community engagement in Cobbs Creek Watershed. Activities can include but are not limited to learning opportunities, events, stewardship, workshops, and beautification efforts.  

“Mini-grant funding offers organizations and neighbors the opportunity to grow and create new connections to Cobbs Creek Watershed in ways they are interested in interacting with the natural environment, said Will Fraser, Clean Air Council Transportation Project Manager” 

Clean Air Council’s Cobbs Creek Watershed Mini-grant Program is focused on supporting projects and local organizations that connect residents and neighbors to green space and water resources. Growing neighbors’ relationship with their surrounding natural environment can contribute to increased mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, while creating stronger bonds to their watershed. Mini-grant funding is made possible by generous funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Clean Air Council is available to meet and discuss proposals before July 24th, 2024 including questions about activities/programming, budget, and location of projects. Contact cobbscreek@cleanair.org to schedule a date and time to meet. All applications are due by Wednesday, July 31st at midnight. Interested applicants can submit an application at shorturl.at/gi2Kx or by emailing the completed questions in the RFP to cobbscreek@cleanair.org.

In January 2021, a selection committee made up of Council staff along with professionals and community members from across Philadelphia selected the top seven projects to award mini-grants ranging from $500 to $2000. The grants were awarded earlier this year and the projects have been recently completed.

Some of the highlights include: 

Chew and Chelten CDC completed a mural painting on a long time newsstand that had shut down. The work was performed by a local artist (Sarafina Harris), who did an excellent job depicting local residents, and community members had input into the design.

The Cobbs Creek Ambassadors used funding to purchase supplies and start up kits to complete regular clean-ups along the Cobbs Creek Trail. Collectively, the ambassadors collected over 1.9 tons of garbage throughout the year, and have been leaders in neighborhood stewardship of the Trail.

The Enterprise Center CDC will be creating mini-libraries outside the Blackwell Library to facilitate a more friendly pedestrian environment that will promote more engagement with the library and other resources they provide.

Centennial East Parkside CDC hosted a Black Men’s Conference during the weekend of Juneteenth, where they used the opportunity to survey neighbors about their walkability experience within the community. They collected data that will be helpful in addressing walkability and other issues in the neighborhood.

Kensington Neighborhood Association is completing a major reconstruction of a severely damaged sidewalk along their neighborhood garden. This project will improve accessibility to the garden as well as general pedestrian travel within the area.

The Council is excited to announce that Feet First Philly is partnering with the Department of Public Health again in 2021 to provide funding for mini-grants to create and improve public spaces, particularly in underserved communities. Mini-grants between $500 and $2000 will be awarded to address the financial and technical barriers that organizations face when creating or improving safe public spaces. Grant money can be used to support public space projects, including construction materials, educational materials, event costs, insurance, stipends, staff time, or other needs. 
Check out the page here to learn more about the mini-grant program, download the RFP, and view a recent webinar from Council staff on the program. Applications are due November 8th, and interested applicants are encouraged to contact feetfirstphilly@cleanair.org or Titania Markland, Transportation Outreach Coordinator, at tmarkland@cleanair.org to discuss their projects.