Looking to transform a Cleveland vacant lot into a garden, side yard or community gathering space? Now’s your chance – and a new grant could help you do it.
The Cleveland Land Bank is accepting applications until Nov. 20. The application portal, which reopened Sept. 21, may close sooner depending on the volume of applications. That would allow staff time to process applications.
The Cleveland Land Bank manages and maintains vacant land owned by the city. Land bank parcels are available for sale or lease to individuals, developers, partner agencies and nonprofit organizations.
To be eligible, applicants must be current on property taxes and have no active code violations on property they already own. If an applicant owns residential rental property, the applicant must be current on all rental registrations.
To apply for a lot, visit the Land Bank Application Portal. If you need help completing any part of the application, a community engagement specialist can help. Call 216-644-7482 or email CDCP@theclevelandohio.onmicrosoft.com. Or visit the Department of Community Development, Room 320, at Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave. Hours are: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Grants available to help
To help applicants bring their vision to life, two local organizations, Neighborhood Connections and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC), are offering grants that will help residents with the costs of clearing, landscaping and repurposing the land.
Grants, up to $5,000, are available for individuals and small organizations. The funds can be used to:
- Maintain a piece of vacant land (cutting grass, regularly picking up trash and debris, etc.)
- Plan a project (preparing a plan to create a pocket park, community garden, etc.)
- Reclaim a piece of vacant land (using an unused plot of vacant land to create something new)
- Repair an existing project on vacant land (fixing or upgrading a community garden, pocket park, etc.)
Krissie Wells, senior manager of Urban Projects at WRLC, spoke to Signal Cleveland about the Green Space Grants and how the process will work.
How does someone apply for a Green Space Grant?
The first grant deadline is Oct. 15. (Subsequent deadlines are Jan. 15, 2027; April 15, 2027; and Aug. 15, 2027). Applicants must attend a grantseeker workshop hosted by Neighborhood Connections.
What can I use the grant for?
Funds are intended to support vacant-lot initiatives led by residents to improve their neighborhood and benefit the community. Grants cannot be used for private revitalization of vacant land for private use. Property owners whose lot shares a border with a vacant lot can buy it to expand their own yards. Owners interested in building on the property, like constructing an addition to a home or a new garage, have to go through a lengthier process with the City Planning Commission. The commission has to approve any construction changes.
How is the Green Space Grant funded?
The initiative originated when the City of Cleveland held initial discussions with the Bezos Earth Fund. Because the fund formed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos does not directly finance city projects, the city suggested implementation partners like the Land Conservancy. Through this partnership, the Bezos Earth Fund is providing $250,000 over three years for the Land Conservancy and Neighborhood Connections to use to support resident-led green space projects.
The $250,000 goes directly to Neighborhood Connections to distribute using their existing grant-making framework, without direct input from the Land Conservancy on awards.
Who picks grant recipients?
A committee of seven Cleveland residents will review all grant proposals and make all funding decisions. Just over $80,000 will be distributed each year. The committee uses a scoring process combined with collaborative discussion to determine funding allocations, which can include full or partial funding depending on project merit and available resources.
How are the committee members chosen?
Committee members are selected through recommendations from the Land Conservancy’s resident advisory committee, Neighborhood Connections’ current grant-making committee members, and an application and interview process handled by Neighborhood Connections.
What if I don’t have any grant writing experience?
To assist first-time applicants who lack grant-writing experience, technical assistance is provided by a nonprofit partner called FARE (Food Access Raises Everyone).
Don’t let the application process intimidate you, officials said – the interview phase allows the committee to learn a great deal directly from resident applicants.
What are the reporting requirements?
Grant recipients cannot receive funding directly and must use a fiscal sponsor such as a community development corporation or another 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Neighborhood Connections can help people connect with a nonprofit partner.
Fiscal sponsors are responsible for ensuring funds are spent appropriately by reviewing project receipts. For final reporting, recipients can choose between submitting a written report or attending an in-person sharing event organized by Neighborhood Connections.
