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.

Section 1: Program Purpose And Categories Of Fundable Projects

The purpose of NSP is to fund resident-controlled neighborhood projects and to improve the leadership capacity of Community Councils. NSP funds are available for projects that are planned, implemented, and evaluated by eligible Community Councils. Support for efforts to recruit, train, and increase the productivity of volunteers is also an important element of the Program. Enhancing the quality of life in each Cincinnati community is the goal of the Program.

Cincinnati City Council has determined that the following types of activities are in the best interest of the City and its citizens when carried out by Community Councils:

1.1 To strengthen, improve, and develop neighborhood organizations through organizational development activities such as those aimed at increasing Council membership, leadership training, seminar attendance, youth leadership development to cultivate new community leaders, as well as fund-raising projects or neighborhood events to benefit the community.

1.2 Communication projects such as specific or general activities that seek to inform, educate, and publicize the work of the Community Council, special activities or events, as well as community identification elements that aid in building a sense of community pride and cohesion.

1.3 Community improvement activities that focus on cleanup and beautification, recreation area development, conservation and rehabilitation of existing housing stock, capital improvements, and the acquisition of fixed assets.

1.4 Educational activities which seek to enhance existing programs or opportunities, inform residents of new community initiatives such as environment or development issues, or to create new programming that will fill an education void for youth, teenagers, adults, or senior citizens.

1.5 Community Services designed to aid law enforcement, develop or enhance recreation opportunities, stimulate economic or commercial development, or manage, study, or promote environmental issues.

1.6 Projects to Investigate problems or conditions in an effort to develop a comprehensive plan to improve or alter situations communities deem a priority.

1.7 Other projects or activities which will improve the quality of life and serve public needs that are consistent with the NSP Guidelines. Refer to Appendix B for a list of examples of projects previously undertaken by Program participants.