Mayor's Urban Neighborhood Initiative - Definition




What is the MUNI Program?
  • Provides a model for future neighborhood initiatives that will create and sustain neighborhood communication and organization
  • Encourages neighbors to strengthen their neighborhoods by taking an active role in the future of their community
  • Offers programs, such as HomeCents and the Gate City Bank Loans, to neighbors to preserve workforce housing
  • Raises awareness of the existing resources available to the Near North Neighbors
  • Provides a focus on traditionally older neighborhood to keep them thriving and a vital part of the community
  • Provides a mechanism to work hand-in-hand with similarly focused partners light the Knight Foundation and Community Foundation

What have we done so far?
  • The initial kick-off was held on June 9, 2007 at Wilder Elementary School. The Near North Neighbors were introduced to the initiative during a program, and then walked with the Mayor and other community leaders and officials through the neighborhood to discuss possible improvements
  • Since then, there have been monthly neighborhood association meetings and several social events. A steering committee of neighborhood leaders, city officials, and other organization leaders meets regularly.
  • Transformative Planning—involving neighbors in planning their future is a critical component:
    • The Community Foundation of GF, EGF, and Region was awarded a planning grant from Knight Foundation to hold 2 6-hour planning charrettes (planning sessions) that took place in Spring and early Summer 2008
    • The charrettes resulted in a plan for the neighborhood future based on the dreams, concerns, and aspirations as expressed by the neighbors
    • In 2009, the City of Grand Forks was awarded a 4-year $1 Million Grant from Knight Foundation for the purpose of increasing resident engagement, property values and the percentage of home ownership in the Near North Neighborhood.
  • Home Rehabilitation Programs:
    • HomeCents:
      • Using City Funds, RRVCA administers the HOmeCents program, which is a low-interest home rehab program open to families with incomes less than 80% of the area median income
      • Loans range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $25,000, and carry either a 0% or 2% interest rate (depending on income level of the family applying)
    • Gate City Bank:
      • RRVCA accepts loan applications for a $1 million loan pool provided by Gate City Bank
      • Loans carry a low (4.9%) interest rate payable over 10 years. The minimum loan is $10,000 and the maximum is $40,000.
  • UND Partnership
    • The student organization “Students Today, Leaders Forever” have helped volunteer in the neighborhood in a couple of projects—namely clean-up and other yardwork projects
    • Consistent partnership with the Center for Community Engagement has helped to:
      • Create and begin to implement a Communications Plan
      • Create an AmeriCorps Vista position to help plan and implement neighborhood meetings, social events, and other various concepts formed from the Communication Plan
      • Plan and implement Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale
      • Continue to support Neighborhood endeavors through the help of Knight Foundation funding




City of Grand Forks
255 N 4th Street * Grand Forks, ND 58203 * Phone (701) 746-INFO