Long Beach has awarded three resident-led improvement projects for West Long Beach as part of the second round of its Love Your Block mini-grant program, an initiative that aims to empower residents to enhance their neighborhoods through community-driven projects.
The three recipients will each receive up to $2,500 in grant funding, according to a press release, to support projects that address air quality and transportation efficiency for residents, especially youth and older adults in the 90810 ZIP code.
Over the past two years, the Love Your Block mini-grant program – managed by the city’s Office of Civic Innovation – has supported projects aligned with the Long Beach Westside Promise Initiative, city officials said. The initiative is a 10-year community investment plan designed to address both current and historical challenges facing West Long Beach by coordinating city efforts, strategic partnerships and targeted investments.
Love Your Block connects resident ideas with city resources and community expertise, turning neighborhood priorities into meaningful improvements, officials said. The program is made possible by funding from the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.
“The Love Your Block program equips residents with the tools to enhance their own neighborhoods,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “When we listen to and support ideas that come from the community, we create solutions that truly fit the needs of West Long Beach and help build strong, lasting connections among neighbors.”
Each of the three resident-led projects will receive mini-grant funding and direct support from city staffers, who will help plan and implement the projects by September, the press release said.
The awarded projects include:
Native Shadeways: A greening initiative that will help residents plant native trees and shrubs along pedestrian pathways and transit stops to provide shade, improve walkability, reduce heat exposure and encourage the use of public transportation.
Moving at the Speed of Community: A community art initiative that combines public art, walking, biking and transit through community-designed reflective artwork, encouraging active transportation while strengthening neighborhood connections and promoting cleaner air.
Native Seeds: A youth-focused environmental education initiative through which local youth and residents can distribute native wildflower seed kits to local elementary school students, empowering families to support pollinators, expand neighborhood greenery and promote long-term environmental protection.
City staffers hosted a Love Your Block Mini-Grant Kickoff meeting on June 23, welcoming and on-boarding this year’s community grant awardees, the press release said. The event marked the start of this year’s project cycle and provided an opportunity for staffers and community partners to connect with the grantees.
The Love Your Block team will continue working closely with each awardee, the city said, to support project implementation, connect them with relevant government departments and resources, and ensure alignment with city policies and community goals.
The first round of recipients were awarded the mini-grants in December, with five community projects that helped plant trees, collect vapes from high school students, remove more than 31,000 pounds of trash and create a new educational garden space in West Long Beach. These community projects were completed in May.
“Love Your Block mini-grants empower West Long Beach residents to shape their community, inspire positive change and foster neighborhood pride,” Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga said in a statement. “This initiative unites us, advances environmental justice and supports our vision for a healthier, more vibrant community.”