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From building strong neighborhood connections to tackling neighborhood issues, the city of Aurora believes in the power of close-knit communities. This is why the city offers funding opportunities for residents. 

Opportunities include:

• Neighborhood Mini-Grants

  • Know Your Neighbor Mini-Grant
  • Printing Assistance Mini-Grant
  • Small Neighborhood Activity Mini-Grant

• Neighborhood Improvement Grant (New!)

Neighborhood Mini-Grants

Each mini-grant grant supports neighborhood activities and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Residents can apply to more than one grant and are encouraged to apply at least two weeks before their event. The grants do not fund religious, political or personal/private parties and events must follow all applicable COVID-related guidelines.

Know Your Neighbor Mini-Grant

The Know Your Neighbor Mini-Grant provides a $100 gift card towards a small neighborhood block party or a $50 Home Depot gift card for clean-up event, giving resources to support connections and bring neighbors together.

Grant Details:

• Grant recipients will receive a pre-loaded $100 King Soopers gift card for events such as block parties, potlucks, ice cream socials, etc., or a $50 Home Depot gift card for neighborhood clean-up events. Religious, political, or personal/private events will not be funded.
• This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocated funds are used.
• Submit applications at least two weeks before the scheduled event.
• Eligible expenses may include food and supplies needed for a neighborhood gathering. Alcohol, cigarettes, and any illegal substances are not qualified expenses.

Grant Eligibility and Application Requirements:

• You must be a resident or property owner in the city of Aurora.
• A block or neighborhood may only receive funding for a Know Your Neighbor Mini-Grant once per year.
• If not yet enrolled, applicants must commit to forming a community group through the Neighborhood Registration Program by contacting your designated Community Engagement Coordinator. Find their contact information at AuroraGov.org/PropertyInfo.

Application

Apply today. The application will remain open until funds allocated for this grant are depleted.  

Other Requirements

• If you plan to close your street for your event, please submit a Block Party Permit request in conjunction with this grant on the Block Party page.
• Depending on your event, a Temporary Use Permit may also be required.
• If the activity involves recreational fire (bonfires, open-pit burning, etc.), a separate Operational Permit is required and must be obtained from the Aurora Fire Department. This must be submitted at least 10 days before your event. Call 303.326.8999 for more information. 
• If a tent or canopy will be utilized for the activity/event, a tent over 200 square feet or a canopy over 400 square feet, an application for a permit must be submitted first for approval. If approval is granted, then a permit will be issued. Call 303.326.8999 for more information.
• If the activity involves using a city park or city park facility, a separate permit must be obtained from the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department.
• If the activity/event involves food or drink, contact the Tri-County Health Department at 303.341.9370.
• Upon completing your event, submit two to three photos to your designated Community Engagement Coordinator. Find their contact information at AuroraGov.org/PropertyInfo. 

Printing Assistance Mini-Grant

The Printing Assistance Mini-Grant covers the cost of flyers and posters to help promote a neighborhood event. This grant is open to Neighborhood Registration Program participants registered in the Aurora Neighborhood Registration Program. We provide in-house printing assistance for flyers and posters to publicize neighborhood events.  

Grant Details:

• Receive up to 25 (8.5x11) flyers in color or 500 (8.5x11) flyers in Black and White or 10 (11x17) color posters or 20 (11x17) black and white posters.
• This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocated funds are used.
• Please apply at least two weeks before your materials are needed.

Grant Eligibility and Application Requirements:

• You must be a resident or property owner in the city of Aurora.
• A block, neighborhood, or group may only be awarded a Neighborhood Printing Assistance Grant once per year.
• If not yet enrolled, applicants must commit to forming a community group through the Neighborhood Registration Program by contacting your designated Community Engagement Coordinator. Find their contact information at AuroraGov.org/PropertyInfo.
• Provide the print-ready file to your Community Engagement Coordinator by email.
• Materials will be available for pick-up at the Aurora Municipal Center. The date and time will be coordinated with the resident.

Application

Apply today. The application will remain open until funds allocated for this grant are depleted.

Small Neighborhood Activity Mini-Grant 

The Small Neighborhood Activity Mini-Grant offers up to $250 to develop more sustainable neighborhood groups and organize a larger-scale neighborhood event(s). This grant is open to the Neighborhood Registration Program participants and offers up to $250 to develop your neighborhood group and organize neighborhood events. Examples include entertainment for a festival, neighborhood t-shirts, neighborhood sports tournament, or even supplies for a front lawn happy hour with neighbors. 

Grant Details:

• Up to a maximum of $250 each based on the grant application and budget estimates.
• No match required.
• Grants are awarded on a reimbursement basis (unless payment is requested to a vendor directly) and are provided first-come, first-served.
• Eligible expenses for this grant may include food and supplies needed for a neighborhood gathering. Alcohol, cigarettes, and any illegal substances are not qualified expenses.
• Applicants must complete the Small Activity Mini-Grant Application and budget forms and be awarded before the expenditure of funds.
• Please apply at least two weeks before your materials are needed.

Grant Eligibility and Application Requirements:

• You must be a resident or property owner in the city of Aurora, and your group must be a participant in the Neighborhood Registration Program.
• A block or neighborhood may only receive funding for a Small Activity Mini-Grant every other year.
• Upon completing your event, submit your itemized receipts, reimbursement request form (provided only to approved applicants), and two to three digital photos to your designated Community Engagement Coordinator. Find their contact information at Auroragov.org/PropertyInfo. 

Application

Apply today. The application will remain open until funds allocated for this grant are depleted.

Grant Reimbursements:

Grant funds must be spent, and the related receipts and reimbursement request form must be submitted to your designated Community Engagement Coordinator by Oct. 31, 2022. Receipts should include all expenditures, showing itemized costs.

Neighborhood Improvement Grant

The Neighborhood Improvement Grant is designed to improve the appearance of Aurora neighborhoods while strengthening the social fabric and organizational networks of the community. 

The city has allocated up to $60,000 for grants for 2022, with a maximum of $5,000 per awarded project. The competitive grants promote projects that improve a neighborhood’s physical condition, enhance pride and identity, increase neighborhood communication, and bring new assets to the neighborhood that foster gathering and positive experiences.

Examples of projects include clean-up events, community message boards, community benches, and little free libraries or food pantries.

Neighborhood organizations and residents (where a neighborhood organization may not exist) are encouraged to apply. This grant can be used in conjunction with city neighborhood mini-grants listed above.  

Virtual Informational Sessions

All virtual information session for the 2022 grant cycle have now passed. A recording of one of the meetings is available below and on YouTube.

To apply, residents are required to meet with a city Community Engagement Coordinator, formerly known as Neighborhood Liaisons, and have all application materials submitted by 5 p.m. April 22. To find your designated Community Engagement Coordinator, visit AuroraGov.org/PropertyInfo.

Application

Online application. For planning purposes, if you would like to view the full list of questions asked on the application, see this PDF. Please note that this document is not a substitute for the actual application, which must be completed online.

Materials and Forms

• Guidebook
• Project Ideas
• Informational Session Presentation
• Budget Form (available in Word or PDF format) - must be completed as part of the application process and emailed to Community Engagement Coordinator

Key Dates:

• Application Opens: Jan. 26
• Meet with city's community engagement coordinator before applying to discuss project: By March 25
  • Application Deadline: April 22 by 5 p.m.
• Funds Awarded: Mid-May
• Deadline to complete awarded projects: Oct. 31