Mayor Evans announces first round of Neighbors In Action (NIA) grantees
Mayor Malik D. Evans was joined today by Simeon Banister, President and CEO of Rochester Area Community Foundation, and John Paul Perez, Executive Director of Community Impact at ESL Federal Credit Union, to announce the inaugural group of recipients of the City’s Neighbors In Action (NIA) grants—marking a major milestone in the City’s effort to support community-driven solutions for safer, stronger, and more connected neighborhoods.
In this first round of grants, 47 resident-led projects across all four city quadrants will receive more than $230,000 to support initiatives ranging from community gardens and public art to youth programs, neighborhood cleanups and block parties. The announcement was held at The People’s Pantry on Avenue D, whose successful application will support the creation of a vegetable garden and mural that will also serve as an educational space for the Cornell Cooperative Extension to offer nutrition classes to pantry patrons and the wider community.
Also in attendance were other grantees, including the Rotary Club of Southwest Rochester, which will conduct a community needs assessment; Sassy in the South Wedge, which received support for events that celebrate and showcase the diversity and creativity of the LGBTQ+ community; and the Charles House in Action and the Jay and Orchard Street Neighborhood Association (JOSANA) who will work together to strengthen neighborhood connections through community events, park restoration, cleanups, and youth engagement.
View full list of NIA grantees
“These projects are proof that when neighbors come together with purpose, great things happen,” said Mayor Evans. “I’m incredibly proud of this first cohort of NIA grantees and excited to see their ideas take shape and make a difference in every corner of our city.”
“NIA is a civic engagement booster and that’s important now more than ever,” said Simeon Banister, President & CEO, Rochester Area Community Foundation. “Applications from every quadrant of the city show residents’ enthusiasm for putting dollars to work where they live. People take notice when they see neighbors making improvements right on their street, and each small win can bring more people to the table.”
"We’re excited to partner with the City of Rochester and Rochester Area Community Foundation to drive neighborhood prosperity across the city,” said John Paul Perez, Executive Director, Community Impact, ESL Federal Credit Union. “These chosen grantees will implement initiatives that create meaningful connections between residents, deepen community bonds, and cultivate neighborhoods that are both vibrant and resilient.
Mayor Evans launched NIA in fall 2024 with support from ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Area Community Foundation. Each organization contributed $100,000 in matching support, bringing the total funding pool to $300,000. Rochester Area Community Foundation manages and distributes the funds, and the City’s Neighborhood Service Centers will provide on-the-ground support to grantees and project leaders. Projects were selected by a review committee made up of representatives from the three organizations.
The partners plan to announce another round of NIA grant applications in early 2026, when residents, block clubs, neighborhood associations, and other local groups will be invited to once again bring their best ideas for community improvement to life.