Individuals, organizations, and project teams of nonprofit and/or for-profit status proposing projects in or for the City of Springfield are eligible to apply. This includes creative leaders, emerging artists, cultural assets, institutions, businesses, engaged community members, inclusive funders, and supportive programming teams. Diverse and inclusive project teams are encouraged to apply.

Projects should directly involve and/or impact residents, visitors and/or businesses in Sprigfied’s neighborhoods by utilizing the arts, creativity and/or culture. This may include creative solutions to expedite the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, support the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) in all forms, and/or strengthen the public spaces of a community. In all cases, projects that focus on DEIA outcomes will be prioritized.
This year, with a lingering pandemic, continuing social equity awakening and economic volatility,
preference will be given to projects in public spaces that demonstrate the role of creative individuals and groups in a community to envision solutions with an arts, culture or creative approach.

There is a wide range of challenges that projects may address with this grant program, including but not limited to:

• Advancing the physical or mental well-being of a community, neighborhood, or group of people
• Highlighting underappreciated cultural or historic communities, issues or infrastructure
• Bringing exposure and interest to small businesses and cultural institutions through reopening
• Providing resources to empower a specific group in a specific public place, such as veterans, the elderly, immigrants, etc.
• Connecting people in the community that may not otherwise interact

***Prioritized Grant Applications***

1. Applications submitted by Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and women applicants.
2. Applications involving facilitating programs, events and/or initiatives that highlight and/or strengthen the creative economy of Springfield.
3. Applications that positively impacts the Springfield communal identity and helps to shift negative perspectives and narratives of the quality of life of Springfield Residents.
4. Applications that include youth voice, youth coordination, youth facilitation and/or as outcomes that positively impact the Springield Youth Population.

Successful applications will meet the following criteria to be awarded a For the Love of Springfield grant.

1. Narrative (10 points): How well does the project use placemaking or placekeeping to directly involve and/or impact residents, visitors and/or businesses in Springfield’s neighborhoods?
2. Community benefit (10 points): How well does the project benefit the community, and are the specific participants or intended audience(s) clearly identified, such as: youth and/or elderly residents; Black, Indigenous, and people of color; LGBTQ+; people with disabilities; immigrants, English as a second language, armed service veterans, etc.?
3. Partnership (5 points): Does the project include at least one partnership, with at least one member of the project team based in the city of Springfield?
4. Planning and Timeline (3 points): Is the planning sufficient and the timeline make sense to ensure quality in implementation, including property owner permission and/or permits? (Letter of support from any property owner(s) and/or a list of all required permitting.)
5. Budget (2 points): the budget is clear and reasonable, and the overall project is feasible within the suggested budget.

All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of representatives of the Springfield community:

Announcing Soon

• Project applicants will be required to sign a grant agreement in order to receive grant funds
• Project applicants will be required to complete a report with data and images about the project to be detailed within the project as requested by the Springfield Creative City Collective.
• All projects must be ready to begin implementation within eight (8) weeks of receiving the grant award notification (this includes preparation meetings), and complete implementation by December 31, 2024.