CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 4, 2017 – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Inc. (DreamKey Partners) has received a $25,000 Pride in Place grant from NeighborWorks® America for a project at the Brightwalk community located on Statesville Avenue. The grant will be used to provide the support needed to implement and establish a neighborhood marketing campaign and facilitate neighborhood image-building efforts.
Tools being developed include way-finding signs with historical facts about the community, banners and yard flags using the Brightwalk logo, benches in the common areas, a website and social media presence. In addition as part of the outreach and engagement portion of the grant, several fun events are scheduled to bring Brightwalk residents and the surrounding community neighbors together. On August 1, 2017, the community is planning to host a National Night Out event that will allow neighbors to connect, learn crime prevention tips, and have fun in a safe environment.
Brightwalk has a very engaged community that includes market-rate homeowners and workforce housing renters. This dedicated group stepped forward to compile a marketing plan that includes a wide range of tools to create a more positive and inclusive image for their neighborhood.
“The Pride in Place grant will allow us to channel resident energy for the community into an activity that could yield great benefits for them and other residents in the Statesville Avenue Corridor,” commented Julie Porter, President of DreamKey Partners.
By focusing attention on what makes the neighborhood a great place to live, work and visit, this grant will lead to more positive perceptions and make the neighborhood more competitive in the regional marketplace.
“Vibrant neighborhoods have a strong sense of place and residents have confidence in the future,” said Paul Singh, Director of Community Stabilization at NeighborWorks® America. “The Pride in Place grants advance strategies that create a shared sense of identity, improve physical conditions, promote a positive image, and catalyze and shape investment.”
NeighborWorks is a network of more than 240 nonprofit organizations nationwide that try to create opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership is a charter member of the NeighborWorks network.
More information on DreamKey Partners and Brightwalk community can be found on www.cmhp.org.
ABOUT DreamKey Partners
DreamKey Partners is a broad-based, private, nonprofit housing development and financial corporation organized in 1988 to expand affordable and well-maintained housing and promote stable neighborhoods for low- and moderate-income families in the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The agency provides assistance to residents of its properties to more fully enter the economic mainstream and achieve independence.
For more information, please visit CMHP.org follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CMHP1.