“Love Your Block” mini-grants open for applications

May 15

Written By Ghinwa Hneide, Salt Lake City Office of the Mayor

For many residents, the best ideas for improving a neighborhood come from the people who live there every day. Whether it’s transforming an empty lot into a welcoming gathering space, organizing a community cleanup, creating public art, or starting a project that helps neighbors feel more connected; the Love Your Block program is designed to help bring those ideas to life.

Applications are now open for Salt Lake City’s Love Your Block mini-grants, offering up to $3,000 in funding for community-driven neighborhood improvement projects. Residents, local businesses, and community organizations in Salt Lake City’s Westside neighborhoods — including Glendale, Poplar Grove, Fairpark, Rose Park, Westpointe, Jordan Meadows, and Guadalupe — as well as the Ballpark neighborhood are encouraged to apply between May 1 and May 31.

At its heart, Love Your Block is about neighbors supporting neighbors and investing in the places they call home. The program helps community members take ideas they’ve been thinking about for years and turn them into meaningful projects that create pride, connection, and positive change. Past neighborhood efforts have included murals, garden projects, park improvements, and creative beautification efforts that make neighborhoods feel more welcoming and vibrant.

Awarded projects will be implemented between August 2026 and June 2027, giving applicants plenty of time to organize volunteers, build partnerships, and bring their vision to life.

One of the biggest goals of the program is making the process approachable and accessible for everyone — even first-time applicants. Community members with an idea but uncertainty about the application process are encouraged to reach out for support.

Support is available throughout the application process, including assistance with paperwork, project planning, and answering questions about potential ideas. Community members are encouraged to reach out even if their project is still in the early brainstorming stages. The goal of Love Your Block is not only to fund projects, but also to empower residents to take an active role in shaping and celebrating their neighborhoods.

The Love Your Block team is available to assist applicants with paperwork, project planning questions, and navigating the application process from start to finish. Residents interested in learning more or getting help with an application can contact the team directly at LYB@slc.gov or call 801-834-7561.

For many neighborhoods, small projects often create the biggest ripple effects — sparking new friendships, encouraging civic pride, and reminding residents that positive change can start right on their own block. Through Love Your Block, Salt Lake City hopes to continue supporting community-led ideas that reflect the creativity, culture, and care already present throughout its neighborhoods.