The 17Strong Neighborhoods initiative grew out of the Sense of Place committee which was one of the four pillars of City Council’s 2012 strategic plan. Part of the Sense of Place committee’s charge was to build a robust neighborhoods initiative. After a few years of grassroots relationship-building by resident volunteers, City Council, and City staff, the effort found structure in the 17Strong Advisory Board. 17Strong provides a framework for communication and a sense of identity within Hamilton’s 17 neighborhoods. Intended to increase civic engagement and strengthen community pride, this initiative seeks to define neighborhoods, community third-places, and the various needs and aspirations of each neighborhood. 17Strong created the resident-led 17Strong Advisory Board and the Micro-grant program in 2016.
In its first two years, the 17Strong Micro-grant Program awarded over $75,400 in grants to 37 community projects. From neighborhood beautification and rehabilitation projects to community job fairs and uplifting community events, the Micro-grant Program provided funds to support a variety of grassroots projects that were created by and for Hamiltonians. In 2018, 25 grants were awarded for a total of $42,303.32.
While the City of Hamilton provides the funding for the grants, the micro-grant program is citizen-led. The early success of 17Strong and its Micro-grant program led to Hamilton being an awardee of the Love Your Block program, a competitive federal grant that is providing two Americorps VISTAS and a $25,000 grant for additional neighborhood programming for two years.
