Title
Approval of the 2026 Neighborhood Matching Grant Allocation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Grant Review Team recommended Neighborhood Matching Grant proposals and authorize the completion of contracts for the proposals.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Grant Review Team recommended Neighborhood Matching Grant proposals and authorize the completion of contracts for the proposals.
Staff Contact:
Brittany Gillia, Associate Planner, Community Planning & Economic Development, 360.753.8427
Presenter(s):
Brittany Gillia, Associate Planner
Background and Analysis:
The City’s Neighborhood Matching Grant (NMG) program has operated for over 25 years, providing small reimbursement-based grants to Recognized Neighborhood Associations (RNAs) that get matched with volunteer labor and RNA contributions to support projects that enhance Olympia’s neighborhoods. The NMG program focuses on projects that are appropriate for citizen level management that encourage residents to identify opportunities and actively participate in making improvements to their neighborhood and broader community.
2026 Application and Review Process
The City Council approved a budget of up to $33,000 to fund the Neighborhood Matching Grant program. Grant awards range from up to $5000 for a single RNA and up to $8,000 for joint RNA applications. Grant awards can cover up to 50% of project costs and must be matched by the RNA with direct financial contribution and/or in-kind labor and materials.
Following feedback from community members, City Council, and staff, the program has been updated to better meet neighborhood needs and interests. The updates focus on several areas of the program, such as expanding the timeline for spending and completing projects, and broadening the program’s goals to include emergency preparedness, climate resilience, belonging and equity, community partnerships, safety, and RNA organizational growth.
Applicant eligibility criteria were also updated and as a result this year the program is open to informal neighborhood groups for awards up to $600. Funding for these groups is intended to support emerging neighborhood associations by providing access to resources for small, quick-win projects that align with program goals, or for activities that help the group prepare to operate as a Recognized Neighborhood Association (RNA).
A total of 13 applications were received for 2026. One application withdrew from the program, one application was deemed ineligible, and the remaining 11 were reviewed by an interdisciplinary team of City staff and two City Council members. Applications were evaluated against a new review criterion that can be found in the Grant Program Description attached to the staff report.
The total amount requested in initial applications was $36,643.97, which created a competitive grant review. The attached Grant Review Team Recommendation table provides a summary of the applications recommended for funding. Staff is recommending full funding for nine (9) of the proposals and partial funding for two (2) of the proposals, for a total of $32,544 in grant awards. After including the administrative fees for the grant application software, the requested total for 2026 is $33,097.00.
Climate Analysis:
Several of the proposed projects will result in long term reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in the following sectors: Transportation & Land Use, and Agriculture, Forests and Urban Tree Canopy.
Projects will support the following strategies:
• Increase the use of active travel such as walking and biking through the establishment of opportunities to gather and play within neighborhoods and maintaining existing pathways.
• Preserve and manage green space to sequester carbon and preserve urban tree canopy. Green space and tree canopy provides shade and mitigates urban heat island effects through the maintenance, addition and preservation of existing vegetation and trees within neighborhoods.
Additionally, the grant was updated this year to encourage and promote community resilience to support neighborhoods in improving neighborhood preparedness and environmental health. This year’s program goals include neighborhood improvements that support environmental sustainability and increase access to community resources and connecting people to information and community resources.
Equity Analysis:
Residents that are part of RNAs who chose to apply for grant funding and scored highest, will benefit from this action. Each application was scored by the grant review team after analyzing the proposals against the program goals.
This year, the program is taking a new approach at eligibility to step toward a more equitable approach for neighborhood grant fund allocation. In previous years, only RNAs have been eligible to apply for funds, which requires a neighborhood group to have elected officers and a board, regular meetings, bylaws, and a geographic neighborhood boundary that get sent to the City annually to keep their active status. This has resulted in multiple areas throughout Olympia’s city limits and Urban Growth Area (UGA) that did not have the ability to apply to the grant program. Some areas currently not represented by RNA's are within areas of higher burden per the Thurston County Storm Water Equity Index map.
To address this, the grant is trialing a new program eligibility by inviting “Informal Neighborhood Groups” to apply, which must include at least four (4) residents who are connected by a defined geographic area within the City limits or UGA. Funding for these groups is intended to support emerging neighborhood associations by providing access to resources for small, quick-win projects that align with program goals, or for activities that help the group prepare to operate as a Recognized Neighborhood Association (RNA). This year, two informal groups applied but only one was eligible, and three other groups had inquired about the funds to learn more.
Additionally, the grant goals, review rubric and scoring system were updated to provide transparency and framework that encourage applicants to include more aspects of equity in their projects. This year’s program goals include neighborhood improvements that increase access to, or reduce barriers around community resources, and projects that foster belonging and inclusiveness.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
RNAs continue to show a strong interest in this program and “informal neighborhood groups” have demonstrated interest in the program now that they are eligible. Earlier this year, neighborhoods hosted a City-wide community forum to discuss neighborhood priorities and needs with the hopes of using the information to guide their grant applications. The additional community engagement and excitement is clearly demonstrated in this year’s project requests- there is an approximate 30% growth in proposed volunteer hours and project values. More volunteers appear to be getting involved, and neighborhood operations are expanding.
The 2026 Neighborhood Matching Grant funds will support stewardship projects including community events, maintenance of walking pathways, emergency preparedness, communications, community safety, RNA administration, and beautification efforts through landscape maintenance. These projects bring residents together and benefit the wider community of Olympia by strengthening the vitality of neighborhoods. The proposed projects continue a strong partnership that provides environmental, aesthetic, and community engagement benefits to City residents and businesses.
Financial Impact:
The 2026 budget has allocated $33,000 to fund the Neighborhood Matching Grant program. The recommended total grant awards for 2026 are $32,544, plus a $553 administrative fee for the use of the online grant application platform.
This funding will leverage approximately $176,694 in projects and improvements across the City and engage approximately 3,000 volunteer hours of residents working together to strengthen Olympia’s neighborhoods.
Estimated staff time to support each matching grant ranges from 10-20 hours each, for a total of 110-220 staff hours for the 11 recommended projects.
Options:
1. Move to approve the Grant Review Team recommended Neighborhood Matching Grant proposals and authorize the completion of contracts for the proposals.
2. Approve partial or full funding of a subset of grant requests that the Council finds consistent with the goals of the program.
3. Do not fund some of the applications recommended by the Grant Review Team.
Note: All options would be contingent on negotiation of agreements with recognized neighborhood associations to complete each project in 2026.
Attachments:
Grant Review Team Recommendation