The Community Project

As we speak with municipal leaders across Idaho, they’ve told us they are looking for opportunities to engage and connect their communities, with the goal of strengthening relationships among community members and creating a sense of solidarity. That’s why we’ve created The Community Project.

The Community Project unites leaders and residents to define, design, and create outdoor spaces that bring people together. Through a professionally-guided process, the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health partners with community leaders to develop skills and tools for impactful community engagement.

In communities across Idaho, our sense of place — of home — connects us to our communities. Neighborhoods, parks, and town squares are all reflections of who we are and where we live. Through The Commmunity Project, the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health will work with selected communities to build or reimagine public spaces that will enhance the quality of life, civility and community connections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Community Project?
The Community Project is a program offered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health that provides incorporated Idaho cities the opportunity to unite community leaders and residents to define, design, and create outdoor spaces that bring people together.

The Community Project is a three-step process:
1. Identify the community space (city park, town hall, library, etc.)
2. Collaborate with community members and groups to cocreate a design and plan for the space
3. The project comes to life through Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health funding

Who can apply?
Only staff or elected officials of any incorporated Idaho city that has attended the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health’s Community Health Academy can apply for this grant.

Why The Community Project?

What types of projects will be funded by The Community Project grants?
Idahoans love the outdoors and their parks, so we envision projects in those areas that would be accessible to all community members, especially families and children.

That could mean a picnic area, pavilion, splash pad, walking paths, trails, gazebos, community gardens, park upgrades, or something else that a community brainstorms.

The Foundation will contribute up to $85,000 toward the project. Communities can contribute or seek additional funds for larger projects. Please note: The Community Project is for new projects and those still being developed with community input.

What do cities receive if awarded one of The Community Project grants?
The Foundation will fund the construction of the project (up to $85,000) and provide a technical assistance contractor to help support community engagement training and lead in-person community events. communications strategies, including surveys and mailers for communities to distribute, assist with ribbon cutting celebrations and social media support. The focus of this grant is community engagement and cocreating a community space to bring neighbors together, and we’ll be there to support cities in that mission.

What should cities expect if selected and what obligations do they have in the grant process?
Awarded communities must allocate staff time or find outside support to help with community engagement, which is expected to be about 80 hours over the entire project. The Foundation will pay a small stipend on top of the grant to help support the workload. It is important that the community allows time for deep and thoughtful community engagement to get a wide variety of voices for this project. The focus should be on voices not typically heard at a city council meeting – youth, seniors, and multilingual community members.

Cities must have allocated space for a project, such as a green space, park, or another site to develop a community project. Concepts need to have some city support already so that the process runs smoothly and can come to fruition in 2024.

What types of community engagement are expected?
This process will be unique as each community’s engagement strategies may be different. The professionally-guided process throughout the grant will include a communications audit, staff training, templates, and tools for this grant, as well as future projects that wish to incorporate all voices in the community.

What is the timeline for The Community Project?

If selected, technical assistance work starts in April and continues through September. Grants funds will be issued in the fall.

2022 Community Project Recipients

Read about 2022 Community Project Recipients

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Contact Information

City Name

First Name *

Last Name *

Title

Email Address *

Phone Number

Background

As we speak with municipal leaders across Idaho, they've told us they are looking for opportunities to engage and connect their communities, with the goal of strengthening relationships among community members and creating a sense of solidarity. That's why we've created The Community Project.

Why are you applying for this Call for Collaboration? What are the needs you are seeing in your community that align with the purpose of The Community Project?

Partners

Recipients will participate in a professionally-guided process to help cities define their wants and needs. Key partners and community leaders from across the community would come together to help collaborate on The Community Project.

Which partners in your community do you see working with you on this project?

Community Engagement & Communications

The Community Project will require significant community engagement to reach a wide variety of residents to hear and gather their input and help unite them around a project that strengthens and enhances the community.

What community members and populations would you want to specifically engage for this project? Please list specific neighborhoods, organizations, or community groups.

What methods and channels do you currently use to communicate with your residents?

Potential Project Spaces

The Community Project intends to unite community leaders and residents to define, design, and create outdoor public spaces that bring people together. Participants will walk through a professionally guided process to help them identify their wants and needs, select a project type, and design a space that strengthens and enhances their community. The recipient will receive up to $85,000 to help with the implementation of the project.

Do you have an outdoor public space that could be the focus for this project? If yes, please describe the space.

Do you have budget available to also help with the building of the project?

Do you have budget available to maintain the physical space once complete?

Staff Commitment

Recipients of The Community Project grant will need to dedicate a staff person to lead the project in their community. Stipends will be allocated to compensate for staff time. The staff would need to work on the project over a six-month time period that would require approximately 80 hours of their time.

Who would lead The Community Project in your community? What is their current role in the community? Do they have the ability to work on the project?

Goal

What benefits do you hope result from The Community Project in your city?

Focus Areas

Grants & Initiatives