Love Your Block, Newark!
Love Your Block, Newark! connects residents with City departments and community organizations to implement neighborhood-level beautification, revitalization, and community-building projects. Administered by the Office of Sustainability, Resilience & Community Transformation, the overall goal of the Love Your Block, Newark! program is to revitalize and beautify our neighborhoods one block at a time. Since the start of the program, 61 local groups have been awarded Love Your Block grants.
Newark is the inaugural city of the Love Your Block program, originally launched by Cities of Service, and has been leading this initiative in the city for the past six years.
In his 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Ras J. Baraka spotlighted the transformative impact of the Love Your Block, Newark! grant program remarking that “These are people who love their block and love their city. They don’t just pull out their phones and videotape — they organize their neighbors and get to work, making all our lives better. Not from City Hall, but from their own neighborhoods.”
The Love Your Block, Newark! Team is looking for innovative projects that address sustainability and resilience challenges faced by Newark residents in their neighborhoods. We are particularly interested in projects that create and enhance green space; increase the tree canopy, address flooding; mitigate extreme heat, poor air quality, poor water quality, and poor soil quality; and waste management.
For more information contact Valeria Angel, the Love Your Block, Newark! Program Manager at loveyourblock@ci.newark.nj.us or (973) 877-9587.
Use this link to meet the Love Your Block, Newark! Grantees
How to apply for a Love Your Block, Newark! grant
The 2026 Love Your Block, Newark! application opens on February 14, 2026. Use this link for updates on the program.
The Love Your Block, Newark! team is interested in the following projects:
- Youth-led projects
- Projects led by Newark Housing Authority (NHA) property residents
- Projects led by block and neighborhood association members
- Projects that create and enhance green space; increase the tree canopy, address flooding; mitigate extreme heat, poor air quality, poor water quality, and poor soil quality; and waste management
- Applicants that are not previous Love Your Block, Newark! grantees
- Projects that utilize volunteers rather than contractors
Key Dates and Deadlines:
- Application published: December 1, 2025
- Information and Idea Brainstorming Sessions (Registration is required.):
dates tbd - Love Your Block, Newark! Celebration event: February 11, 2026
- Application portal open for submissions: February 14, 2026-April 3, 2026
- Application deadline: April 3, 2026
- Selection Committee Review Period: February-April 2026
- Grantee Announcement: May 1, 2026
- Grantee Orientation Workshop: May 6, 2026
- Project implementation period: May 15, 2026-August 30, 2026
- Midterm report due: July 1, 2026
- Final report submission: September 15, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Love Your Block, Newark! Program qualifications?
- Newark-resident led
- Projects must take place in Newark
- Projects must be volunteer-led
- Projects must demonstrate a creative solution to sustainability and resilience issues affecting your neighborhood
- Projects must show clear support from the community
- Projects must address a concern that is shared by community members
What are some examples of past projects?
Projects address blight, beautify the neighborhood, and improve the quality life, health and safety.
- Vacant lot and street clean ups
- Creation of community gardens and pollinator gardens
- Front yard landscaping on multiple homes on a single block
- Installing dog waste stations
- Educating young people on basic landscaping techniques
How do I apply for a grant?
The Love Your Block, Newark! program application opens every year on Valentine's Day. Groups of neighbors are invited to learn about the application process through the Love Your Block, Newark! Information Sessions and Brainstorming Workshops and our Office Hours. Once the groups have determined their project idea, they are invited to apply for a grant of up to $5,000. The grant review committee will review and score each application. The applications with the highest scores will be awarded a grant.
Each grantee must sign and submit the grantee agreement and attend an orientation session in early May 2026. Once these requirements are completed, grantees can begin implementing their projects once they sign their grant agreement. All projects must be completed by August 30, 2026 and all final documents must be submitted by September 15, 2026. Once the Love Your Block, Newark! team receives, reviews, and approves the final documents, the grantee will be reimbursed for the funds expended.
What are the application materials?
- Love Your Block Ordinance
- Grant Review Rubric
- 2026 Grant Application
- Love Your Block, Newark! Informational Presentation
- Love Your Block, Newark! Information Packet
What are the required items for my application?
- Contact information
- Project budget with itemized materials
- A step-by-step project implementation plan
- An image of your project site
- List of confirmed partners
- Business Registration Certificate (BRC)
- W-9 Tax Form
What items are not covered under the Love Your Block, Newark! program?
- Services covered by existing city services i.e. tree pruning
- Staff time
- Administrative fees
- Rent or utilities
- T-shirts
- Promotional videos
- Some promotional materials are covered (contact the Love Your Block, Newark! team if you have any questions)
- Contractors (must be preapproved by the Love Your Block, Newark! team)
- Murals and other public art (Public art programs are no longer eligible for Love Your Block, Newark! grants)
Once I complete the grant what documents are required for submission?
- Itemized expense form that reflect the budget (unless a budget modification was preapproved by the Office of Sustainability, Resilience & Community Transformation)
- Financial documents must include receipts and/or invoices and backup financial documents that may include bank statements, credit card statements, Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App receipts.
- Event report(s) (if applicable)
- Final report with photographs and video clips
Where can I find information on Newark that I can use to support my project proposal?
The Newark Environmental Commission has adopted an Environmental Resource Inventory which is a comprehensive analysis of Newark’s existing environmental health which can be accessed at bit.ly/nwkeri2021.
Can I submit multiple applications?
Yes, but only one application can be awarded.
If I am not selected for a Love Your Block, Newark! grant, can you tell me why?
All scores are final. There is no grievance process. No debriefs or meetings regarding scores will be provided.
Are there other programs that the City of Newark offers to improve neighborhoods?
The Home Façade Improvement Program creates a Sense of pride of ownership, preserve/increase the value of residential properties, and beautify neighborhoods. It provides up to $40,000 no-interest forgivable loans for owner-occupied homes. The loans maybe used for repairs or improvements to the property’s exterior which are intended to beautify the community and may also satisfy code violations or threats to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants or the surrounding community. For more information https://www.newarknj.gov/card/live-newark-program
The Adopt a Lot program allows Newark Residents to transform empty vacant lots into beautiful community gardens and create educational and recreational havens. The properties are currently located in all the five Wards throughout the City where individuals are growing fresh flowers and produce.
Guidelines Include:
- Must be a Newark resident
- Lots are rented for $1.00 per calendar year (LEASE)
- Lots must be used for community gardening and beautifying the space
- Can grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other foliage plants No livestock allowed
- Other restrictions apply
For more information https://www.newarknj.gov/card/adopt-a-lot
Creative Catalyst Fund is a grant program, designed to promote equitable financial support for Newark’s arts sector by providing grants to artists and small and mid sized nonprofits working in any artistic discipline.
For more information https://www.newarknj.gov/card/creative-catalyst-fund
Murals and other public art (Public art programs are no longer eligible for Love Your Block, Newark! grants) Contact Fayemi Shakur, the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Director for funding opportunities)
Trash & Recycling Pick up Schedule
For more information https://dpw.newarknj.gov/trash-and-bulk-collection-schedule/
For more information https://dpw.newarknj.gov/recycling/
Park and & Green Space Maintenance
For more information https://dpw.newarknj.gov/parks-grounds/
To report a street tree that is needs to be pruned or to request street tree(s) to be planted in front of your home or business
Contract the Urban Forestry Unit through See Click Fix.
For more information https://www.newarknj.gov/card/rooted-in-newark
Newark People’s Assembly bridges the gap between the Community and City Hall. If you have suggestions, concerns, and/or questionsregarding the City of Newark and those things that may impact quality of life for Newark residents, this is the forum. We will host meetings regularly throughout the 21 neighborhoods in the City of Newark to discuss various issues. We need your assistance with solutions. Email newarkpeopleassembly@ci.newark.nj.usto join the list serv. For more information https://www.newarknj.gov/card/newark-peoples-assembly
Do you provide interpretation or materials in other languages?
Contactanos si necesita interpretación.
Contacta-nos se precisar interpretação.
Who should I contact if I have any questions or need additional information?
loveyourblock@ci.newark.nj.us
