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๐ The Crownicle: Your Monthly Housing & Neighborhood Services Digest
Inside this issue:
- High Energy Use Program: A Genuine Opportunity Awaits
- City Council Approves Funding for Three Sisters Market to Combat Food Insecurity in the West Boulevard Corridor
- Bring Your Neighborhood to Life with the Corridors Connect Community Activation Grant!
- The Tree Care Grant: Enhance Charlotte's Green Legacy!
- Join the JCRT to Qualify for MYEP: Learn from Our Participants!
- Dive Deeper into the MYEP Experience with Our Accenture Industry Day Video!
- 30 Years of Charlotte's Neighborhood Matching Grant
- HOMES Grant ALERT: Economic Support for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Homeowners!
- And much more...
๐ฑ Connect with us for the latest news and happenings in your neighborhood.
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โก High Energy Use Program: A Genuine Opportunity Awaits
Attention City of Charlotte residents! The High Energy Use Program is an opportunity tailored for income-qualified residential customers (both renters and homeowners) with high energy usage. A partnership between the City of Charlotte and Duke Energy Carolinas, and run by Duke Energy, this initiative may provide:
- ๐ Comprehensive Home Repairs: Window, roof, plumbing, and more, ensuring a safer living space for you and your loved ones.
- ๐ก Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Transition to LED bulbs, upgrade to ENERGY STARยฎ refrigerators, and much more - all aiming to significantly reduce your electricity bills.
- ๐ฐ Absolutely Free: Yes, you read that right! All these upgrades come at no cost to eligible participants.
Mayor Vi Lyles shares, "By providing much-needed home repairs and energy retrofits, we can lower energy costs and provide safer housing for our residents who need it most, and at the same time reduce emissions in our community."
For more details & to see if you qualify, visit duke-energy.com/highusehelp. Join us in shaping a brighter, sustainable future for our communities!
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๐ฝ City Council Approves Funding for Three Sisters Market to Combat Food Insecurity in the West Boulevard Corridor
The Charlotte City Council has approved $1.5 million in funding for the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition in support of the development of Three Sisters Market in the West Boulevard corridor. Three Sisters Market is a proposed community-owned food co-op grocery store that will help address food insecurity in the West Boulevard corridor and also create jobs. The project, additionally supported by a $3.25 million commitment from Mecklenburg County, is expected to break ground in 2024, and open in 2025.
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๐ง๐พโ๐คโ๐ง๐ป Bring Your Neighborhood to Life with the Corridors Connect Community Activation Grant!
The Corridors Connect Community Activation Grant is here to financially support projects for the upcoming Corridors Connect events. Your neighborhood group or local non-profit could receive a $500 grant to bring your community-boosting project to life. Applications are open through Friday, September 15, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
Corridors Connect events turn neighborhood streets into pop-up parks for a day, encouraging folks to walk, bike, and hang out with neighbors. These events are a collaboration between the cityโs Corridors of Opportunity initiative and the city and Mecklenburg Countyโs Open Streets 704 program, promoting health, fun, and community connection in different areas of Charlotte.
Use the grant for activities such as youth programs, fitness classes, or interactive displays. Get creative and include everyone in the community!
The events will be held from 1-5 p.m. on these dates and locations:
- Oct. 8: Sugar Creek Road & I-85; Albemarle Road & Central Avenue
- Oct. 15: Beatties Ford & Rozzelles Ferry; Graham Street & North Tryon
- Oct. 22: West Boulevard; Freedom Drive & Wilkinson Boulevard
Got a project in mind? Check with Aisha Abdus-Sabur to see if it qualifies.
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๐ณ The Tree Care Grant: Enhance Charlotte's Green Legacy!
Proud of Charlotte's iconic tree canopy? Let's nurture it together! The Tree Care Grant offers up to $3,000 in matching funds for canopy care, sapling support, and tree-centric community events.
Questions? Reach out to jonathan.hill@charlottenc.gov. Letโs ensure our city remains beautifully green!
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The cityโs Neighborhood Matching Grant program has hit the big 3-0! Over the past 30 years the program has:
- Awarded over 1,000 grants to community groups.
- Funded numerous projects that have transformed local neighborhoods.
- Strengthened community bonds and boosted neighborhood spirit.
๐ What's Happening for the 30th Celebration?
- Visual Timeline: A detailed graphic depicting the program's journey and its standout projects up to 2022 is now on display at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center until September 30.
- Bus Tour: In September, the NMG review team will take a bus tour of transformational projects across the city. The tour will give riders a chance to learn, get inspired, and network with neighborhoods that have led successful projects. Be on the lookout for pictures and videos from the tour in the October newsletter!
- Historical Video: Learn about the journey of the Neighborhood Matching Grant program in this video. Hear accounts from Tom Warshauer (former Assistant Director of Community Engagement), Philip Freeman (Neighborhood Partnership Manager), Nicole Storey (Community Engagement Division Manager), Jackie Clare (Community Grant Program Manager) and Cynthia Woods (Training Specialist). They highlight how the program has fostered collaboration between the city and neighborhoods through diverse projects like public art and community gardens, and how this has helped build a stronger community.
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๐ Join the JCRT to Qualify for MYEP: Learn from Our Participants!
Looking to join the Mayor's Youth Employment Program (MYEP)? Start with the Job & Career Readiness Training (JCRT), a required step for all interested students.
In our latest video, high school student Sahasra Bangaru shares her experiences at the Loebsack & Brownlee law firm, gained through the MYEP. She highlights how the initial JCRT program equipped her for the program. Additionally, Katie Geyer (Litigation Support Manager) and Michelle O'Brien (Director of Operations), both from Loebsack & Brownlee, discuss the various opportunities the program provides. Chris Loebsack, the firm's founder, also weighs in on the significant contributions MYEP participants make to their teams.
Get a head start on your career with the JCRT:
Don't Miss Your Chance!
- ๐
Job & Career Readiness Training Dates: October 9โ13 (In-school sessions), October 14 & 21 (Saturday options)
- โฐ Time: 9:30 a.m.โ1:30 p.m.
- ๐ Sign Up Now: JCRT Registration (Closes on September 27)
- MYEP Eligibility Criteria
- Attend a CMS high school or reside within Charlotte city limits.
- Be 16 years old on or before April 15, 2024.
- Possess a valid Social Security number.
- Be eligible to work in the USA.
- Completion of JCRT is required to participate in the MYEP.
Spread the word to high school students in your community!
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๐ Dive Deeper into the MYEP Experience with Our Accenture Industry Day Video!
Watch our new video highlighting the Accenture Industry Day. This collaboration between MYEP and Accenture allowed MYEP participants to step into the corporate world, offering a glimpse of daily operations and roles. Hear Naya Martin (Management Consultant) from Accenture LLC talk about the practical learning opportunities that helped participants explore potential career paths.
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Attention Mecklenburg County homeowners! You might be eligible for the HOMES program grant. Here's what you need to know:
- What is it? The HOMES program stands for Helping Out Mecklenburgโs homeowners with Economic Support. It's a grant to support eligible homeowners.
- Grant Amount? Qualified county homeowners can receive up to $426.
- Live in Charlotte? Great news! If you're within Charlotte city limits, you can get an additional grant of up to $234. That's a potential total of $660!
- Deadline: Don't wait too long. The application deadline is November 17.
- How to Apply: Visit www.MeckNC.gov/4HOMES or dial 980-314-4663.
Spread the word and make the most of this opportunity!
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๐ Code Enforcement Tip of the Month
"Junk motor vehicles" are defined as being inoperable and unlicensed. You may have one junk motor vehicle on your property; however it must be located at the rear of the property and covered with a canvas car cover. A violation of this ordinance could result in your vehicle being towed.
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๐ City Highlights: Latest Updates You Might Have Missed
This affordable housing program in Charlotte can help first-time homebuyers (WCNC Charlotte)
The City of Charlotte and some nonprofits hope to make homeownership more accessible through various programs, including expanding the availability of affordable housing.
Welcoming Charlotte Resettlement Resources
The City of Charlotte has proudly attained the "Certified Welcoming" designation from Welcoming America, recognizing its initiatives and policies for immigrant inclusion. To further this commitment, the city presents a valuable list of resources as part of the "Welcoming Charlotte" initiative, fostering a warm and inclusive environment for new residents.
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๐
Upcoming Events
You are invited to join the Charlotte community to kick off the McColl Park Project!
Join the McColl Park Committee, the City of Charlotte, and Charlotte Center City Partners at the McColl Park Project Open House. Get to know the design team, learn about the project's vision to revamp the park at Trade and Tryon into a lively gathering place, and share your thoughts. Enjoy interactive stations, food, and entertainment at this free event, with convenient parking at the VAPA Center or easy access from the 9th Street Station. The event is free and open to all.
Date and time: Thursday, September 21 ยท 5:30-7:30 p.m.
๐ Reserve a Spot Now: McColl Park Project Open House Tickets
Don't miss this opportunity to have a say in the vibrant future of our city!
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