Creative Community Grant

Round 5:
Guidelines and Application
Program Overview
Welcome to the fifth round of Creative Community Grants! This exciting initiative is brought to
you by The Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington (The Center), made possible through
The Kresge Foundation. Through the program, we will give artists the opportunity to team up
with residents and community groups to create transformative change in our city. The program
will lead to the creation of dozens of new community art projects that enliven the city during our
three-year process.

These guidelines provide some basic information on where The Center is targeting this support,
how the program works, and how to submit your application materials. We encourage you to
review this document while filling out the grant application. You are strongly encouraged to
contact us before submitting an application. We are happy to help if you have
questions, want advice, or need help thinking through an idea.

The Center for Great Neighborhoods: The Center for Great Neighborhoods is a 501(c)3 not-
for-profit community development organization that helps residents improve their lives as they
improve their communities. Since 1976, The Center has been strengthening urban
neighborhoods in Covington, KY, through innovative programs in the areas of creative
placemaking, community organizing, leadership development, housing development, youth
engagement, and financial education. The Center equips residents with the tools to discover and
develop their capacities, gain access to resources, and actively contribute to positive community
development that advances the well-being of the entire neighborhood.

The Kresge Foundation: The Kresge Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that
promotes human progress by supporting endeavors in community development, education,
environment, health, the arts and culture, and human services.

Please remember:
All projects must be a creative effort to solve an identified issue and build on assets in the
community. The issue for this round is economic opportunities defined further on page 3.
 To apply, you must be working with a self-identified artist or an arts-related business. We
define this really broadly; see the definitions on the next page.
Applications are limited to 5 pages plus attachments. Attachments may include examples
of artists work.
All applications must be received at The Center no later than 4pm on November
30, 2016. Any application received after the deadline date and time, regardless of
postmark date, will not be eligible for review. As a matter of fairness to all applicants, no
exceptions to the deadline will be made.

Please mail, email, or hand deliver applications to:

ATTN: Shannon Ratterman

The Center for Great Neighborhoods
321 W.MLK/12th Street
Covington, KY 41011
shannon@greatneighborhoods.org

Important Definitions
Artist: The term artists includes but is not limited to individuals and groups engaging in music,
dance, drama, performance, folk art, architecture, landscape architecture, painting, sculpture,
photography, graphic and craft arts, industrial design, food, costume and fashion design, motion
pictures, television, radio, film, video tape and sound recording. An artist does not necessarily
have to derive income from their work, but can apply as a business. Artists are self-identified but
will need to provide examples of previous work to demonstrate capacity to complete the project.

Creative Placemaking: Any artistic or creative effort to make a particular community stronger.

Westside Neighborhood: NOTE! The grant program is not bound to the Westside
neighborhood! However, a certain number of awards will be made to projects taking place in this
neighborhood (read on to find out why). It is important to know that the boundaries of the
Westside neighborhood are Pike Street to the north, 16th Street to the south, 71/75 Interstate on
the west and the railroad tracks to the east.
Topic for this round: For this funding round, we are focusing on the topic of economic
opportunities. These projects could be focused on Covington small business (non-chain) growth,
entrepreneurship, workforce development or expansion of job opportunities, skill building or
sharing of skills with the community. Funds can be used for a number of different business
related expenses, as long as there is proof of a broader community benefit. As an example if you
would like to use the funds to purchase a piece of equipment that will help you grow your
business, you should also demonstrate how your business is going to give back to the
community. Were open to a variety of different approaches to this issue. If you have an idea you
think matches the criteria, youre highly encourage to contact us and let us give feedback to help
strengthen your application.

Funding Criteria & Project Eligibility

What is the Creative Community Grant Program?
As part of The Centers efforts to empower resident-led groups to complete community
improvement projects, we are creating a pool of funds that are available to artists who can
propose creative approaches to a specific community-identified issue or topic. These funds are
available thanks to a multi-year grant The Center received from The Kresge foundation to
implement creative placemaking activities in Covington.

Awards of up to $5,000 per project are available. We anticipate funding 6 rounds of grants over
three years, and each round will address a different issue. We will work with community groups
to identify the issues that are most important to residents. Selection of the issues will be
informed by neighborhood surveys, focus groups, resident-led community groups, and existing
neighborhood plans and small area studies.

Who can apply?

The applications are open to anyone who identifies themselves as an artist and is engaged in one
of the arts-related disciplines listed previously. This could be an individual or a group, a hobby or
a business. Artists do not necessarily need to live or work in Covington, but applicants should
identify a connection to the community and a direct community benefit. Applicants can submit
more than one application per round; but can receive no more than one award per round. The
lead applicant must be over 18.

Where can projects take place?

In this round of applications, there will be up to four awards made. At least two of these awards
will be made to projects taking place in or with a focus on the Westside neighborhood.

Why focus on the Westside?

The Westside of Covington has a history of making things, from goetta to beer to church
benches. While many of these businesses are no longer located here, The Center for Great
Neighborhoods is making a deliberate effort to target creative placemaking initiatives in the
Westside to reawaken the neighborhoods prominent maker identity. We have a hunch there is a
lot untapped creativity that just needs an outlet for expression.

The funds The Center is receiving from The Kresge Foundation are intentionally dedicated
primarily to the Westside neighborhood because we believe that concentrating our development
work in one area helps us to create a bigger impact. In addition to the Creative Community
grants, other Kresge funding will work to improve the 12 th Street corridor, rehab the historic
Hellman Lumber Mill, create more housing opportunities, and continue to combat blight and
stabilize the neighborhood. We are, however, dedicating some funds from both our Creative
Community and Nano grant programs to other Covington neighborhoods to help spur momentum
elsewhere. These programs are opportunities for us to share our resources with the community
and give it back to people that have ideas and the skills necessary to execute creative
community improvement projects.

What kinds of projects are eligible for support?

The project must be artist-led, and the application must present a strong case for how the
proposed project idea will creatively address the identified issue or topic. All projects must be
inclusive, involve the community in the project, and provide a direct benefit to the community.
The artist must be able to provide previous examples of work that prove a sufficient capacity to
be able to complete the project as outlined. The artist should also make a strong case for how
they will include the community in their project. Projects must be able to be completed within six
months from the date of award. Funding is not eligible for projects that are already completed or
partially underway.

Application Preparation
The Center for Great Neighborhoods will work with any artist to assist them in applying for these
funds. We will provide assistance with thinking through, designing, and implementing your
project. We realize that not all applicants are familiar with Covington or have experience leading
community projects. We would love to talk with you while youre coming up with a concept and
help identify connections that will make your application stronger. We can also review your
application and budget before it is submitted to the Review Panel to help you put the best
application forward. If you have any questions or would like assistance, please contact:
Shannon Ratterman
Program Manager, Community Development
859-866-7524
shannon@greatneighborhoods.org

Funding Decisions & Timeline

Grant decisions are made through a review process involving the Creative Community Grant
Review Panel. A sample score sheet is attached to this application. The Review Panel is made up
of two professionals in arts related fields, two residents, and one staff person. After proposals are
read by the Review Panel, grant seekers may be invited to discuss their proposal or may be sent
additional questions.
Applications Due: 4pm on November 30, 2016
Funding Decisions Made: January 15, 2017
Project Completion: no later than July 15, 2017.

Financial Management
Your project budget should specify how you plan to spend the money awarded. All grant awards
will be disbursed through The Center for Great Neighborhoods. We will write a check for 50% of
the award amount after awards are announced and a letter of agreement has been signed and all
other paperwork is turned in, including a W-9. A check for 35% of the award amount will be
written at the projects midterm check in. The final check for 15% of the award amount will be
written at project completion. We will write checks directly to an individual, organization, or
business.

At the conclusion of the project, the applicant must submit a completed report. This report must
include a detailed budget of how funds were expended and copies of all receipts or invoices. An
artist may use funds to compensate themselves for their time and skills. These fees should also
be properly documented and an invoice should be created to serve as documentation of how the
funds were spent. The Center will create a 1099-MISC for your tax records if the award amount is
over $650. Be advised that you should also keep copies of all receipts for your own tax records.

Project Implementation and Reporting

All funded projects will be assigned a staff person as a liaison. This staff person can provide
assistance in implementing your project and will be checking in with you regularly to ensure that
the project is proceeding as planned. Staff from The Center is here to help your project be
successful, so please take full advantage of this resource!
 Application
Contact Information
Name of organization/group/business: N.A.
Full Name of Primary Contact Person: Ybette Inojosa
Mailing Address: 322 W Robbins St
Phone: (859)-653-9556
Email: yinojosa@fuse.net
Organization/Group/Business/Individual Website Address: N.A.

Project Description
Project Name: From A to Z in Spanish
Project Location: Westside

Total Project Funding Request: $5,000.00

Please provide a short description of your proposed project (100 words or less):
My project consists in creating a series of books in Spanish (in principle four books) to teach
Spanish to our growing bilingual interested community, from children to adults who might know
Spanish but do not have the formal schooling.

Project Strategy
1) Explain your project idea. What makes your idea innovative or unique?
These books will be based in motives and people from our community. Things that people will
immediately identify as part or Covington and the West side. For example, the books will feature
my son Marcel, who knows Spanish because I speak to him in Spanish but is learning in English. I
will set the lessons about the activities that Marcel performs and I will describe these activities in
Spanish with a series of illustrations that I will mainly draw myself.

2) Please provide a timeline for your project.

The project will start from February to June but immediately I will start with the planning of the
lessons by choosing the activities that Marcels performs in his daily routine. The lessons will be a
progression that will build upon itself. Similar to what it is normally presented in other language
learning books. For example, the first lesson will be about identifying yourself Este soy yo Este
eres tu etc. I estimate I will prepare at least two to four lessons per book to be completed
toward the end of June.

3) If you are applying as a business, what impact do you anticipate your project having on your
business?

4) What impact do you anticipate your proposed project will have on the surrounding
neighborhood and the city as a whole? How will this project benefit the community and who,
specifically, will benefit?
Explain how your idea uses art to address the issue of economic opportunities in the community.
With my project, I am planning to reach out primarily to our immigrant youth population, but
adults wanting to learn Spanish will also benefit. Having formal schooling in a second language
such as Spanish will increase the economic outlook of anyone by making them more employable.
The community as a whole will also benefit by making it more inclusive toward our growing
Spanish population. My books will be a piece of art because of its uniqueness and the
illustrations that I will produce for the book. By dedicating myself to this project, I will support
myself partially while I am working on this project. After the books are completed I will used this
method to advertise Spanish classes that I could run from my house or I could advertise to be
held at the Center helping grow the center own efforts for community integration. Ultimately this
project will benefit my personal financing by being a partial source of income for myself.

5) How will you involve community residents, resident organizations, and organizations doing
neighborhood work in your project? Explain how you will reach residents typically underserved by
arts programs.
As I mentioned before, after the books are completed I am planning to held a series of lectures
and classes either at my house or at the center to reach out to the members of our community
interested in learning Spanish. Using these lectures our Spanish speaking neighbors will feel
more included.

6) Describe your existing relationship to the Covington community. Do you live here, work here,
have involvement with existing Covington community organizations, etc.?
I live in the West Side and I am heavily involved in activities with the Center and our community. I
am known as a person to whom people can come when there are communication issues between
Spanish and English speakers.

7) Describe your experience completing this type of project. If applicable, please attach up to 3
examples of previous work. These examples can be photos of work or links to examples found
online. Please note, we will not be able to accept samples in other forms or return work samples.
I have recently taken a Spanish substitute teaching position at Covington Latin. In the few weeks
that I held this position my students experience great improvement by using my learning
approach. I will use the same passion and enthusiasm that I use when I was teaching to collect
my experience in producing my books.
 8) Describe your experience in leading collaborative arts projects and/or community projects.
I have participated in a number of project with my husband David Rice as the lead project
manager. This project will be the first one that I will be the lead person.

9) How will you know that your proposed project is successful? What do you hope to accomplish?
Briefly describe how you will measure success.
If learners using my method can improve not only their confidence in communicating in Spanish,
but also learn the basis for reading and writing, I will feel that satisfy and consider that my effort
to be successful. My previous experience with Covington Latin indicates that people are very
receptive to my unique teaching techniques. In the case of our Spanish community and youth
who speak Spanish but do not write or read well, my method will be a reinforcement to their
schooling and I think to this community my project will have the greatest impact.

10) How much of the grant funds will you use to compensate yourself for your own time on the
project? Please describe why you feel that this amount is appropriate, relative to the amount of
time the project is going to require.
I am planning to fabricate 100 issues of each book. This will be a total of 400 books. At the rate
of $4.00/per book. I will need $1,600.00 to have the books printed. The rest of the money
($3,400.00) I will use to compensate myself. The books will take about 5 months to produce and
paying myself $8.50/hour I could working 20 hours a week will be the minimum I could work for
to complete this dream of mine.

11) Is the project dependent on approval from another entity (e.g. City, School Board, other
property owner)? Identify who you might need to get approval from and how you think you might
do this.

Project Budget

CREATIVE
COMMUNITY
EXPENSE GRANT OTHER FUNDS*
From A to Z in Spanish

DESCRIPTION FUNDS TOTAL

books $1,600.00 $0 $1,600.00
Artist Time $3,400.00 $0 $3,400.00
$0 $0 $0
 TOTAL $5,000

*It is not required or expected that other funds be used on your project, but if the Creative
Community grant funds are only partially funding your project, please let us know how much the
other funds are and where they are coming from.

Certification & Liability release

I hereby certify that the information included in this application is true and accurate and that I
have not misrepresented or falsified anything contained. I certify that I am authorized to act on
behalf of the business/organization/group that I have referenced in this application.

I hereby release The Center for Great Neighborhoods and the staff, officers, board of trustees,
contractors and funders of The Center for Great Neighborhoods, without limitation, and any and
all persons involved in receiving, distributing, and reviewing my Creative Community Grant
application from any and all liability, loss, or claim related to the Creative Community Grant
Program and my application therefor, including without limitation, the damage or loss of my
application and related materials.

I, as an applicant to the Creative Community Grant Program, have read, understand and agree to
the Certification and Liability Release conditions as detailed above.

Signature of Applicant Date

Panelist score sheet (Example)
Strongl
Neither Strongl
Project Name: y
Agree/ y
Total: Disagre
Disagree Agree
e
The applicants idea addresses the community-identified topic
well. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The proposed project is very likely to spur economic growth or
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
opportunities.
The applicants idea is very innovative and unique.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The proposed project is very likely to have a positive impact
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
on the community/neighborhood.
The applicants plans for engaging* community/neighborhood
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
residents in their proposed project are very strong.
The applicants plans for engaging resident groups typically
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
underserved by arts programs is very strong.
The applicant demonstrates a strong understanding of the
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
community/neighborhood.
The applicant has clearly demonstrated the ability to carry out
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
the proposed project with a high level of artistic quality.
The applicant clearly has the administrative plan and capacity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
to carry out the proposed project.
I like this project.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
*Community engagement could occur during project conception, implementation, or during or after installation; whichever makes
the
most sense for the type of project being described.