The Frenchtown Community Engagement Fund (CEF) is a grant program that seeks to provide funding to Frenchtown residents and stakeholders to help implement the Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan. At the heart of the CEF is the engagement of Frenchtown residents and stakeholders in the implementation of their Neighborhood First Plan. Frenchtown residents and stakeholders are acutely aware of the issues and concerns that face their neighborhood, and many are willing if they receive some help to undertake a project, which will improve their neighborhood. Proposals approved for CEF funding, from their inception, and development must engage Frenchtown residents and stakeholders.

The CEF is capitalized with $300,000 from the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and will provide grants ranging from $500-$25,000. CEF grants must implement an action item(s) from the Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan.  CEF will invest and fund services, projects, and initiatives in six funding categories:  Beautification/Placemaking & Neighborhood Image, Community Organizing, Health/Wellness, Social Services, Neighborhood Safety & Crime Prevention, and Housing, Economic Development & Community Reinvestment. These funding categories are defined in the CEF Overview.

CEF applications must be completed online via Neighborly. Applications will be accepted starting      May 9, 2022, until June 23, 2022. Within three weeks of the application window closing, the CEF Grant Review Committee will make recommendations for funding and awardees will be notified.

Apply today for a CEF grant and help to move Frenchtown Forward. Workshops will be held for prospective applicants to gain a good understanding of the program and the application requirements. Click here to register for a workshop.

Click here to see the full Overview/FAQ of the CEF program.

CEF Grant Review Committee

The Frenchtown Community Action Team is recruiting Frenchtown residents and stakeholders to review grant proposals for the Community Engagement Fund. Individuals selected will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating grant proposals for funding. This is an unpaid volunteer appointment.

If selected as a Volunteer CEF Grant Reviewer, you will be required to:

• Respect the vital and pivotal role expected of you in the evaluation of programs and services that promote the preservation of character, empower residents, and transform the Frenchtown Community;
• Commit to serving in this capacity during Fiscal Year 2022 CEF review period, June 23 – July 14, 2022;
• Dedicate at least five hours per week on average to this role to review and score applications. The amount of time reviewers will have to dedicate will heavily depend on the number of  applications received;
• Participate in the required CEF Grant Review Committee training for approximately three hours on June 13, 2022;
•  In addition, allow one day for a potentially all-day meeting for all the reviewers to discuss the grant proposals, formalize scores and submit final application scores);
• Utilize your knowledge, skills and abilities to thoroughly evaluate all assigned CEF proposals without bias toward the CEF applicant or proposed services or programs;
• Base evaluation scores on the proposal’s ability to address a Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan Action Item, effectively and cost- efficiently; 
• Follow the CEF scoring rubric to conclude a final score for each application reviewed;
• Commit to completing all proposal reviews within the prescribed time frames;
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality in protecting the integrity of the CEF process;
• Work effectively with other Grant Reviewers and conclude each grant proposal reviewed;
• Have computer skills to conduct scoring electronically.

Interested in volunteering? Click here to complete an application for the Grant Review Committee.