NSP Guidelines Index

• The origins and rationale for the creation of NSP.

• Purpose of the NSP and types of projects that are eligible for funding.

• Ineligible or unallowable activities (2.l)
• Conditions or funding limitations (2.2)

• Who is eligible to receive funds? (3.1)
• Responsibilities of participation (3.2)
• Appeals Process (3.3)
• Compliance with City Ordinance #220-1989 (3.4)

• Getting Community approval for the proposal (4.1)
• Deadlines and application forms (4.2)
• Accompanying documentation to be submitted with a proposal (4.3, 4.4)
• Help in preparing a proposal (4.5)
• Getting approval of the proposal (4.6, 4.7)

• Term of the contract (5.1)
• Number and amount of contracts allowed (5.2)
• Collaboration with other Community Councils (5.3)
• Interim, Final and "projected" Final Reports (5.4)
• Reimbursement/Payment (5.5, 5.6)
• Contract Amendments (5.7)
• Required Training (5.8)
• Service on the NSP Review Committee (5.9)

• Defining the role of the NSP Manager (6.1)
• Recommended job responsibilities (6.2)
• Required job responsibilities (6.3)

• To whom is the Review Committee responsible? (7.1)
• What is its purpose? (7.2)
• Composition of the Committee (7.3)
• Eligible Candidates for Chair and Chair Elect (7.4)
• Length and Commencement of Terms (7.5)
• Quorum Requirement (7.6)
• Committee Schedule (7.7)
• Approval process for proposals (7.8, 7.9, 7.10)
• Formal and Informal Amendments (7.11)
• Cancellation of contracts (7.12)
• Program monitoring (7.13)
• Committee operating procedures (7.14, 7.15, 7.16)
• Attendance policy and penalty for non-attendance (7.17)

• Role and responsibilities of Agency the City contracts with to administer NSP.

• Role and responsibilities of the individual whom the Agency designates as the primary staff person within the organization to manage NSP and interact with the City and the 51 Community Councils.

• Role and responsibilities of the City and/or its designated department(s) in overseeing the Agency's administration of NSP and monitoring the eligibility of Community Councils that participate in the program.

• List of eligible Community Councils as determined by the City.

• Partial listing of projects previously undertaken by Program participants.

Historical Introduction

Historically, individual neighborhoods and Cincinnati City Officials have worked together to improve conditions in Cincinnati's Communities. Neighborhood leaders have often worked with city planners to shape their community's plans. Input into the city budget process through community priority requests is now routine for neighborhoods and City Departments. Over the years, Cincinnati has been enriched by the developing partnership between City Officials and neighborhood groups. The Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) enhances this partnership.

Created as a three-year experiment in 1981, NSP provides direct funding to recognized Community Councils. Originally, the City allocated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to sponsor the program. These annual grants provided needed support for small scale community improvement projects. Over the initial three-year period, the success of the NSP was clear. In 1984 and 1987, the City of Cincinnati affirmed its commitment to this partnership with community groups by refunding the program for an additional three-year period. In 1988, faced with eligibility concerns with the use of CDBG funds, the City shifted NSP to general revenue funding. Since 1990, the City's partnership with Community Councils through NSP and its funding commitment have been reaffirmed annually.

In an effort to improve service to neighborhoods and reduce program administrative cost, the City chose in 1989 to subcontract the administration of the NSP to a nonprofit agency. From 1989 through March 1991, Clean Cincinnati, Inc., administered the program. Invest In Neighborhoods Inc., began administration of the program in March 1991.

Cincinnati City Officials recognize that indigenous neighborhood leadership and widespread resident volunteerism are essential elements to the vitality of the City. Through NSP, the Cincinnati City Council intends to improve its communications with Cincinnati's Communities, thereby facilitating neighborhood involvement in developing and implementing city policy.

Self-determination and community improvement are the foundations of the program. Through NSP, the City extends a challenge to its neighborhoods: "What can we do together to improve the quality of life in your community?"