Are you and/or your fellow neighbors passionate about preserving or improving your neighborhood amenities, aim to establish a positive relationship with local government, and want to increase interaction among residents? Then we encourage you to get in contact with our team to start a neighborhood association!

1. Refer to the Toolkit: Starting a Neighborhood Association as a starting point to effectively organize your group. ADA Accessible version.
2. Contact the City at EngageIC@iowa-city.org for assistance in arranging a method of outreach and communications.
3. Establish common goals and needs of the neighborhood through a meeting or online format and initiate a process to accomplish these goals.

See below for a list of Iowa City neighborhood associations and contacts. If you wish to contact the representatives, if your association is not listed, or if edits need to be made, please email EngageIC@iowa-city.org.

• Bluffwood – Dick Dorzweiler
• College Hill – Nancy Carlson and Jim Walters
• Country Club Estates HOA – Kim Reves
• Creekside – Karen Nichols
• Deweyville – Jennifer Baum  
• Eastside – Ursula Ferrier  
• Galway Hills HOA – Erin Jordan and John Kalohn  
• Longfellow – Donna Brooks and Tim Weitzel  
• Lucas Farms – Judy Nyren  
• Manville Heights – Kasey Befeler and Mary Murphy  
• Miller Orchard – Mary Knudson and Cecile Goding
• Mormon Trek Village HOA – Dr. Keith Hanlon  
• Morningside/Glendale – Ashley Laux 
• Northside – Sharon DeGraw and Susan Shullaw  
• Parkview Terrace/Normandy – Mary Murphy and Becky Hall 
• Peninsula Neighborhood HOA – Jay Gilchrist and Terri Morrow  
• South District – Angie Jordan and Autumn Regovna  
• Taft Speedway – Catherine Wilcox
• Ty’n Cae – Judy Pfohl
• Village Green HOA – Melvin Cannon and Doug Horras  
• Windsor Ridge HOA – Erika Christiansen and Lorraine Bowans  
• Wonderful Westside – Sara Haroun and Mohamed Joreya
  

Search for an address to discover which Neighborhood Association that location falls within. Please note that some addresses may not be within the bounds of any association. 

Use one of these search methods:

• Click the search box to type in and select an address.
• Click within the map (use the + and - buttons in the upper right corner to zoom in and out; click and drag to pan around the map)

Results will include the neighborhood name for the given address/location. Each neighborhood is displayed as a shaded color and the boundary is displayed as a solid black outline of the area.

The Neighborhood Council of Iowa City is a citywide network of neighborhood associations designed to support one another. The Neighborhood Council works as one unit in an effort to address common issues or concerns of all neighborhoods. They also meet to learn about various resources and programs available through the City and other outside organizations, as well as provide their input on new City initiatives being considered.

Meetings of the Neighborhood Council typically occur on a quarterly basis, or as needed. If you would like to be included on the email list for notifications of these meetings, please contact EngageIC@iowa-city.org.

Nextdoor is a free and private social networking site for neighborhoods that connects neighbors to one another and allows for the City to post important updates for all to view. This is a great way to share information with your neighbors regarding activities, concerns, or general interest.

The City of Iowa City has composed a resource directory for neighborhoods that will assist them in achieving their goals.

• Toolkit: Starting a Neighborhood Association (ADA Version)

   

• Toolkit: PIN Grant Overview (ADA Version)
• Project Proposal Form
• Project Proposal Form Sample
• Ranking Criteria

   

• Toolkit: Neighborhood Cleanup (ADA Version)
• Liability Waiver for Neighborhood Cleanup
• Photo Release Waiver for Neighborhood Cleanup

• Toolkit: Outdoor Movie Night (ADA Version)
• Reservation Request for Neighborhood Movie Kit

• Toolkit: Block Party (ADA Version)

• Toolkit: National Night Out (ADA Version)

• Community Bulletin Boards Locations in Iowa City
• Online Community Calendars
• Sample Budget Sheet
• Sample Meeting Agenda
• Sample Meeting Minutes
• Sample Membership List
• Sample Sign-in Sheet

The first step of the PIN Grant process is to submit a general Project Proposal. Submission of the proposal will help ensure applicants have ample time to understand grant requirements and goals, preplan communications with community partners, and coordinate with relevant City departments or divisions. City staff will review the proposal submission to ensure the early proposal is feasible and meets grant guidelines. Should City staff have concerns about the eligibility of a proposed project, the concerns will be discussed with applicants to determine how the project might be modified to meet the goals of the PIN Grant program.

• Download the PIN Grant: Project Proposal. ADA Accessible version.
• Refer to PIN Grant: Project Proposal (SAMPLE) as a guide. ADA Accessible version.

Grant applicants will be given opportunities to attend Pre-Application Meetings. These meetings will cover an overview about the grant process and requirements, emphasize coordination with other City departments and community partnerships, and provide an opportunity for Association Leaders to share ideas and ask questions. The meetings are not mandatory, but strongly encouraged.

The meetings will be held via the same Zoom link https://bit.ly/pingrantsession.

• Tuesday, March 5 from 11am to 12pm
• Wednesday, March 13 from 5pm to 6pm

If City Staff deem the Project Proposal feasible, applicants will be invited to complete the application for funds. Below are the major requirements for the application:

Funding requests must align with the City of Iowa City’s Strategic Plan. In this section of the application, applicants must provide a detailed description explaining how their proposed project aligns with the Values and Impact Areas.

Funding requests must demonstrate Neighborhood Input. In this section, applicants will need to outline the Community Need that the proposed project aims to address. Additionally, applicants must share how the project intends to foster social connection and community building amongst neighbors, or provide Community Benefit. Applicants must also share the methods used to collect feedback about the project, the results of the Community Support, and how Community Participation will involve individuals in the planning and completion of the project.

Funding requests must list Partners and Collaborators. In this section of the grant application, applicants must include the names and contact information of the entities as well as describe how these entities will be involved in the project. Additionally, if the proposed project impacts a City department, applicants must have staff assistance.

Funding requests must include a Budget. This section of the grant application should paint the financial picture for the project proposal. The budget must include all needed expenditures with clear descriptions of the products and/or services being requested.

Funding requests must provide a Timeline. In this section of the grant application, applicants must outline major milestones and activities for their proposed project.

To be complete, grant applications must meet all major requirements. Should an application be considered incomplete, associations will be given an opportunity to provide the missing information.

A grant review committee, made up of City department and division representatives, will evaluate applications using a Ranking Criteria that aligns with the application requirements. After review, staff will recommend a funding level for each application. Results will be sent to PIN grant applicants.

Refer to the PIN Grant: Ranking Criteria chart as a guide. ADA Accessible version.

All awards will be dispersed from the City of Iowa City to grant recipients and must be used exclusively towards project expenditures. Copies of invoices and receipts must be submitted to EngageIC@iowa-city.org. Any unused funds or unsupported expenditures must be returned to the City of Iowa City at the end of the grant cycle.

The Outreach & Engagement Specialist is responsible for monitoring PIN Grant projects and will request grant recipients to submit both a Mid-Year Report on the progress of their project and a Final Report to evaluate the project’s overall success.

To ensure that all PIN Grant funding will be expended within the designated funding year, grant recipients must submit a Mid-Year Report to provide written confirmation of their intent to spend all funds by January 31 of the Fiscal Year. If it becomes clear that not all funds will be utilized during the funding year, the City may opt to redistribute the remaining funds to other neighborhood-related activities that meet the grant requirements. To provide a closeout summary, grant recipients must submit a Final Report which includes a self-evaluation of project’s success and documentation of all incurred expenses.

In order to be considered for funding, a recognized Neighborhood Association must apply through its official leadership. Considerations will also be made for up-and-coming associations (Pilot Programs) who have ideas for a qualifying project.

The maximum grant amount is $3,000 per neighborhood association. Funding is budgeted to provide a total of $20,000 each Fiscal Year.

Any improvements/events/resources funded through this program must be inclusive, and open to everyone without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law. Additionally, projects must be within Iowa City limits and located on public property.

Funding requests must fit into a category, be based on neighborhood input, have a collaborative partner, and align with the City’s Strategic Plan:

• Categories
  • Education: Programs that provide hands-on learning, training, and education that support the community.
  • Events: Unique projects that engage and bring neighbors together and better connected.
  • Building Things: Roll up your sleeves and get out the power tools.
  • Multimedia, Art, and Designs: Creating or enhancing assets that are sources of neighborhood pride and identity.
  • Environment Enhancements: Projects that positively impact your neighborhood’s natural environment.

  
  

• Neighborhood Input

• Community Need: The proposed project must address a specific need within the neighborhood.
• Community Benefit: The proposed project must foster social connection and community building amongst neighbors.
• Community Support: To ensure the funding accessed by a neighborhood is dedicated to the use that is broadly supported by residents that live there, the application process requests that applicants gather feedback from the neighborhood on the proposed project and share those results.
• Community Participation: The proposed project must involve neighbors in the planning and completion of the project.




• Partnerships and Collaboration
• Grant projects must be collaborative between neighborhood associations and another external entity. By working collaboratively, neighborhood associations have the opportunity to create more connections within the community. Partnerships and collaborations can be with youth or civic organizations, ethnic organizations, nonprofits, PTAs, local businesses, etc. These connections can provide funding, in-kind donations, volunteers, expertise to develop designs or analyze data, and/or other types of support. The best way to consider ideas for partnerships is to look over a list of all resources needed to complete the project and to identify those items that can be found in the community.
• If a project proposal impacts a particular City department or division, applicants will be asked to include a City staff sponsor in their project. For example, if a project involves a public art installation then a Public Art staff member will help guide the applicant in achieving their goals and help navigate obstacles that may arise throughout the process. City staff can assist with required permits, share costs associated with surveying, installation, and design, etc.




• Strategic Plan
• Grant projects must directly align with at least one of the City of Iowa City’s Strategic Plan Values and Impact Areas:
• Values: These values represent both a lens through which you will approach your work, as well as a desired end state when your proposed project is completed.
• Climate Action: Educates households about using sustainable transportation, shopping local, reducing and conserving energy, and preparing for extreme heat, cold, and weather events caused by climate change.
• Equity and Inclusion: Proactively addresses racial inequalities and social injustice by promoting inclusiveness among a wide variety of populations within a neighborhood (e.g. ethnic, intergenerational, income levels, renters or other underrepresented populations).
• Partnerships and Engagement: Connects people to the important resources that are available throughout Iowa City by leveraging partnerships with local agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and private partners.
• Impact Areas: How your proposed project will impact your neighborhood.
• Neighborhoods and Housing: Creates inviting and active outdoor spaces with unique and engaging recreation offerings.
• Safety and Wellbeing: Provides hands on learning, training, and education needed to equip the neighborhood with knowledge or tools to prevent, prepare for, confront, or respond to danger. Increase access to nutritious food, or physical fitness opportunities, or mental health, or health education.
• Mobility: Prioritizes the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit rides to ensure community members can easily, safely, and comfortably travel.
• Economy: Cultivates a vibrant business ecosystem that attracts tourism, supports living wages, creates business growth and development, and provides resources for career development.

PIN Grant projects must foster social connection and community building amongst neighbors; create safer and more inviting public spaces; and enhance neighborhood pride and identity.

Refer to the Toolkit: PIN Grant Overview for an exhaustive list of examples of potential projects. Accessible version here available here. The examples are separated into several categories based on type of program/project:

• Education: Programs that provide hands-on learning, training, and education that support the community.
• Events: Unique projects that engage and bring neighbors together and better connected.
• Building Things: Roll up your sleeves and get out the power tools.
• Multimedia, Art, Design: Creating or enhancing assets that are sources of neighborhood pride and identity.
• Environment Enhancements: Projects that positively impact your neighborhood’s natural environment. 

• March 2024 – Grant cycle announced
• March 2024 – Project Proposals due
• April 2024 – City staff review of Project Proposals completed and invitation to proceed to full Grant Application sent
• May 2024 – Grant Applications due
• June 2024 – City staff evaluation and review of Grant Applications completed
• June 2024 – Awardees notified
• July 2024 – Funds made available to awardees
• January 31, 2025 – Mid-Year Report due
• June 30, 2025 – Final Report due and all grant funds must be expended and invoices provided to support funded expenditures