City of Long Beach Launches Second Round of Love Your Block Mini-Grants
The Californer/10339750

Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach has announced that they are now accepting applications for the second round of mini-grants through the Love Your Block program. This community-driven initiative empowers residents to make positive changes in their neighborhoods. The mini-grants will continue to support the City's Westside Promise Initiative, a 10-year plan to address challenges facing West Long Beach.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his appreciation for the program, stating that it plays a vital role in fostering collaboration between local government and community members. He also thanked the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University for making this initiative possible.

The Love Your Block program will provide mini-grants of up to $2,500 to support resident-led projects in West Long Beach. These projects will focus on reducing exposure to poor air quality, promoting clean air education and tools, improving pedestrian and bicycle safety, and building community capacity to advocate for street and environmental improvements.

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Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga emphasized the importance of this program in creating lasting change for the West Long Beach community. He stated that Love Your Block supports the Westside Promise by addressing issues such as air quality and transportation while bringing neighbors together.

Residents who are 18 years or older and live within the 90810 zip code are eligible to apply for a mini-grant. Nonprofits and businesses can also support projects through donations, volunteers, or materials. Applications can be submitted online in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog until March 31st.

Lea Eriksen, Director of the Technology and Innovation Department, expressed excitement about welcoming more resident-driven projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life in West Long Beach. She encouraged all residents to share their ideas and take an active role in shaping the city's future.

In December 2025, five resident-led projects were selected during the first round of mini-grants. These include Legacy in Bloom, Breath of Fresh Air, Community Bee Apiary, Westside Clean & Green, and Community Garden. Community members can support these projects by volunteering for a community work day. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and have a passion for addressing issues impacting residents, especially in West Long Beach.

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Since March 2024, Long Beach has been participating in Love Your Block's two-year civic engagement program. This program focuses on building trust between local governments and residents and provides $100,000 in funding for resident engagement, two rounds of mini-grants, and staffing.

The Love Your Block program has positively impacted nearly 50,000 residents nationwide since its inception. It has improved over 4,000 public spaces by creating art displays, cleaning graffiti, and removing trash. A total of 50 cities across 33 states have received support through the program. A study by the Urban Institute found that cities participating in Love Your Block were able to strengthen social cohesion among residents and increase civic participation.

For more information about the Love Your Block program and to apply for a mini-grant, visit the Office of Civic Innovation webpage. Residents can also learn more about the Westside Promise at longbeach.gov/wsp.

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