Prosper Portland is awarding $1.49 million in Community Livability Grants for fiscal year 2018-19 to 23 projects in five urban renewal areas or neighborhoods — and five of those are in Lents!

The goal of the Community Livability Grant (CLG) program is to foster vibrant and healthy neighborhoods and improve the prosperity of area residents and businesses. 

One of the largest projects to be funded in Lents is a partnership between the Lents Neighborhood Association and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church to make $30,000-worth of improvements to the Lents Activity Center. The Activity Center currently houses monthly community meetings and events, such as neighborhood association general membership meetings and the Community Clothing Closet. The money will go toward facility improvements, such as upgrading the existing lighting system to energy efficient, long-lasting LED technology and fixing the doors so that the Activity Center can be used more efficiently by more people. 

“We are grateful to be able to bring this money to Lents and hope this success will energize and inspire others here to dream up their own projects and partner with us to make them happen, knowing that funding is possible for work that benefits our community,” said Lents Neighborhood Association Chair Sabina Urdes.

Other projects in Lents that have received funding from Prosper Portland: Junior Achievement Exterior Improvement Project ($45,500), Rose CDC’s 91st Ave Street Mural ($9,500), White Phoenix Acupuncture’s Safety, Comfort, and Visibility Project ($18,143), and Wisdom of Elders’ Workforce Development Initiative ($30,000).

Another area in East Portland receiving Community Livability Grant money from Prosper Portland is Gateway: $15,000 for the creation of a District Asset Map; $200,000 for Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization’s Africa House; and $300,000 for DePaul Treatment Center’s Campaign for Hope & Recovery.

The full list of awards is available on Prosper Portland’s website.