City of Hartford and Greater Hartford Gives Foundation Announce 2026 Love Your Block Grants

Thirteen community and resident-led projects will receive nearly $180,000 in grants.

HARTFORD, Conn (August 21, 2026) — The City of Hartford and the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation have announced that 13 community and resident led projects have received support as a part of the Love Your Block (LYB) initiative. This is the seventh year that LYB has offered grant opportunities that bring together city leaders and local residents to revitalize neighborhoods one block at a time.

This year, the program received nearly 43 proposals through a “call for ideas” process from nonprofits, faith organizations, Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZs), and residents looking to beautify their community and create a sense of unity. Grant recipients were chosen by a panel of Hartford residents, city staff members, as well as Greater Hartford Gives staff.

From the restoration of a basketball court and painted murals to the creation of pollinator gardens, new landscaping and community gardening, each organization has practical ideas that correspond with neighborhood and city plans, and 13 were awarded grants to begin their projects. Ten projects received Greater Hartford Gives community grant awards totaling $170,880 over one year. Three resident grants totaling $8,496 will be funded through a pass-through grant to Hartford Next.

“We are so grateful for the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation’s continued support of the City of Hartford’s Love your Block program,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “Love Your Block allows the people who know our city best, our residents, the chance to be leaders of change in their own neighborhoods.”

“For the past seven years, the Foundation has proudly partnered with the City of Hartford along with community organizations and local residents as they seek new and creative ways to work together to design projects to improve the quality of life and vibrancy in their neighborhoods,” said Greater Hartford Gives President and CEO Jay Williams. “The reason Love Your Block has been so successful is that it recognizes that residents, not foundations or government, are most knowledgeable about neighborhood needs and are best equipped to identify how to beautify and enhance the quality of life in their community. Love Your Block ensures that they have the tools and resources they need to make their vision a reality.”

Love Your Block has been the spark to a broader neighborhood beautification and resilience strategy supported through the partnership between the City of Hartford and Greater Hartford Gives. Branded as “Love Hartford,” the strategy supports large neighborhood pride and beautification through the Adopt Your Block trailer, anti-litter marketing, engagement of local artists to reinvigorate bus shelters, resident recognition awards to celebrate beautification achievements. This work is part of Greater Hartford Gives’ Thriving Neighborhoods strategic priority portfolio which seeks to increase number of thriving Greater Hartford neighborhoods.

This round of Love Your Block Community Grants includes:

Organization

Project Description

Grant

Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation

Clay Arsenal Community Café & Mural Project will transform the exterior of CACDC office at 135 Walnut Street into a vibrant, welcoming “Community Café” space paired with a resident-designed mural, converting an underutilized streetscape into an inviting, café-style seating area with greenery, shade, and public art that reflects the identity, culture, and pride of the Clay Arsenal neighborhood.

$25,000

Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood

The Charter Oak Gateway Beautification and Community Engagement Project will initiate approximately 12 neighborhood clean-up and beautification days involving community volunteers and youth participants. Planned improvements include trash/debris removal from vacant lots, landscaping enhancements, lighting improvements, installation of a community garden on Charter Oak Place, 10 tree garden areas along Wyllys Avenue, decorative planters, public art installations, mural creation, and placement of 2 benches near community gathering areas and gardens.

$9,500

Colt Park Foundation

A total of 17 planters will be installed in and around Colt Park to beautify the park and neighborhood. Five trees will be planted to mitigate an area which retains water by the soccer/football fields. Lawn signs and neighborhood communication will be posted regarding swimming lessons, as well as incentives for swim team.

$23,180

Community Renewal Team, Inc.

The Spirit of Recovery Mural project is a public mural project designed by CT-based muralist Micaela Levesque to address the ongoing substance use and overdose crisis in Hartford to honor individuals, families, and communities impacted by addiction while promoting empathy over stigma.

$20,045

Friends of Barnard Park

The project involves the remediation of immediate infrastructure and blight issues at the South Green's Barnard Park. Work includes coordination and outreach for a neighborhood-wide event on the green to discuss long-term issues and desires for the park, increase neighborhood engagement with the project.

$15,155

Hartford Next, Inc.

Planters created by residents in a series of 3 workshops held through the summer will be used be used for a pollinator pathway, while others can be taken home and used in community spaces. An educational component will focus on the value of native plantings as well as community/civic participation.

$9,500

Just Be BIG

The Legacy Park Project will transform an underutilized outdoor space into a safe, welcoming environment for residents of all ages. The project includes the construction of custom wooden picnic benches, some featuring commemorative plaques honoring Rosa Lucas - a longtime Hartford educator - as well as flowers, greenery, landscaping, a community garden, and mural featuring positive affirmations and cultural imagery.

$15,000

Parkville Sounds

The Park Street neighborhood beautification and safety initiative will focus on comprehensive exterior improvements including graffiti removal, façade restoration and repainting, lighting enhancements, landscaping improvements, and the installation of intentional community-centered visual elements such as murals and public art.

$11,500

Sheldon Oak Central, Inc.

The Martin Growth Project will transform vacant lots owned by Sheldon Oak Central into temporary community green spaces and gardens to provide educational workshops, fresh vegetables for residents, and community harvest and giveaway days.

$22,000

Women's League, Inc.

The Place Where Children Love to Learn project will install a permanent, large-scale mural by accomplished Hartford muralist Micaela Levesque on Women's League's south-facing wall showing the joys of learning and the lifelong benefits of quality early education for Hartford’s youngest children. The children depicted will reflect the rich cultural backgrounds of city residents.

$20,000

Resident Grant Hyacinth Yennie
( MARG NRZ )

MARG NRZ works hard to keep the Barry Square area clean and attractive. As the streetscape project on Maple Avenue continues, this year MARG NRZ will paint a median to make the area stand out for residents and visitors to enjoy. They plan to have students from the Art Department at Trinity College design and paint the median.

$3,000

Resident Grant Immanuel Congregational Church

The project will develop additional pollinator gardens and restore an existing pollinator garden. The objectives are to: 1) contribute food sources for pollinators that are essential to all agricultural endeavors, including community and private vegetable gardens; 2) create a visually pleasing, colorful landscape at the key corner of Farmington Ave. and Woodland St. for the enjoyment of neighbors and visitors to the area; 3) create a learning opportunity for students at Trinity Academy.

$2,675

Resident Grant Jackie Nadal

Corridor enhancement with planters from Knox at the following locations: New Britain Ave. and Newfield St., as well as across the street at the Empire Pizza plaza; New Britain Ave. and Mountain St., each corner near New View Chinese and Coyote Flaco; New Britain Ave. and Monroe near Piolin restaurant; Maple Ave. and South 3 corners by Goodwin Park, First and Last and Rent-A-Center.

$2,821

Greater Hartford Gives Foundation is a community foundation, a hub for community-driven change. We fuel impact throughout Greater Hartford and beyond by making connections, providing funding, and sharing knowledge. Our goal is to create an inclusive region where everyone prospers. Together, with a powerful network of changemakers, we identify our neighbors’ most pressing needs and invest resources in initiatives that dismantle racial and economic barriers and improve quality of life. In our 100-year history, we have invested more than $1 billion throughout the region. Join us in building a Greater Hartford full of opportunity. Learn more at greaterhartfordgives.org.