Neighborhood Enhancement Program
Second Year to Improve Cincinnati Communities
2008 NEP PROGRAM
The City of Cincinnati will implement the Neighborhood Enhancement Program for the second year in 2008 in the communities of Clifton Heights/ University Heights/Fairview (CUF), Westwood, and Evanston.
The program, begun in 2007, brings together city staff and neighborhood partners for 90 days to focus and integrate services and community redevelopment efforts to jumpstart improvements to the quality of life for residents and businesses. For 2008, the program is also launching a volunteer and donation component to help increase the program’s effectiveness.
Through the program, partners focus on developing neighborhood assets. Integrated services delivery include:
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Concentrating building code enforcement
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Identifying and ‘cooling down’ crime hot spots
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Cleaning up streets, sidewalks, vacant lots
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Beautifying landscapes, streetscapes and public right of way
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Engaging property owners and residents to create and sustain a more livable neighborhood, after the first 90 days.
NEP TIMELINE
The NEP program following the following timeline for 2008:
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CUF NEP (February 1 – April 30, 2008)
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NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS
Each area of the three neighborhoods in the 2008 Neighborhood Enhancement Program, was identified through an analysis of building code violations, vacant buildings, disorder and drug calls for Police service and drug arrests, as well as incidences of graffiti, junk autos, litter and weeds.
The program’s measures of success are: achieving decreases in baseline “blight index” and crime statistics, completion of inspections of properties for building infractions, and serving as an overall catalyst for community re-building.
In 2007, Price Hill saw a 16% decrease in blight at the end of the 90 days according to the Keep Cincinnati Beautiful Blight Index, a visual survey of elements such as graffiti, litter, weeds, and neglected properties. Avondale experienced a decrease in the baseline blight index by 12% in that neighborhood’s focus area and Northside experienced a 17% decrease.
U.S. BANK PARTNERSHIP
In 2008 the City will partner with U.S. Bank for people to donate money and time to help the quality of life in the city. The partnership recognizes that when we can successfully address issues in neighborhoods in need, the entire city and the entire region benefits.”
U.S. Bank is providing $3,000 seed money to each of the neighborhoods to help in their community enhancement efforts and as a call for others to also support the program.
U.S. Bank is stepping up to the plate to help the City of Cincinnati and its community partners on behalf of the 3,000 US Bank employees who live, work, give and play in Cincinnati. U.S. Bank applauds the City for the focused, coordinated effort, and challenge other businesses and residents who give their time, talent and treasure to the Neighborhood Enhancement Program. Partnering with the City on this project will further U.S. Bank’s goal of helping to revitalize communities in the Cincinnati market.
People may donate to the program at any
U.S. Bank branch in the Cincinnati area and may designate a particular neighborhood, or contribute to the Neighborhood Enhancement Program overall. Each community will help to identify what the funds are most needed for in their neighborhood such as paint, ladders, flowers, trash cans, litter sticks, etc. that will help improve the cleanliness, beauty, safety and quality of their neighborhood. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful will administer the funds to each neighborhood.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Additionally, in 2008, the Neighborhood Enhancement Program is seeking volunteers from corporations, community groups and other organizations to help with clean up, beautification projects, and other improvement projects.
Cincinnati Job Corps has initially committed volunteers to the 2008 Neighborhood Enhancement Program. Job Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential education and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24, and has skilled and unskilled workers who can help on projects.
CITY – COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Ongoing community partners for the Neighborhood Enhancement Program include: U.S. Bank, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, People Working Cooperatively, Inc., The Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. and the United Way Place Matters Initiative, Community Partnering Center, Duke Energy, Uptown Consortium, Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Citizens on Patrol, Xavier University’s Community Building Institute, and the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission.
The
City Services Team includes staff from Police, Fire, Board of Health, Community Development, Buildings & Inspections, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Transportation & Engineering, Park Board and the Public Services departments.
Keep Cincinnati Beautiful (KCB) is coordinating volunteers and donations. KCB can be reached at (513) 352-4380 or at
http://www.keepcincinnatibeautiful.org. Click here to make a
donation. Click here to sign up to
volunteer.
