As the South West Neighborhood Planning process comes to a close, the community is invited to an OPEN HOUSE to learn how to become involved in implementing neighborhood change and to discuss allocations of plan funding. The OPEN HOUSE will take place on Saturday, September 15, from 10:30am to noon at Elver Park, Shelter #2 (the new shelter), at 1250 McKenna Boulevard.

The Neighborhood Steering Committee, comprised of residents, business representatives, and landlords from the area, recently completed the SW Neighborhoods Plan. The Plan includes many strategies and recommendations to improve community safety, stabilize focus areas with disproportionate challenges, build neighborhood capacity for creating change, increase homeownership, expand activities for youth, help people build job skills, expand community services, and improve infrastructure such as transportation and parks and open space. Plan recommendations will be implemented using a complement of different tools and funding sources. The Steering Committee will share its spending plan for Community Block Grant Development (CDBG) funding at the OPEN HOUSE.

A few happenings that occurred during the planning process so far include:
•development of a community garden in the Lucy Lincoln Hiestand Park where 35 families and Falk School grow fresh food for their families improving multicultural interaction and social connections and making parks safer.
•grant of $7,500 for Urban League of Greater Madison to connect untapped labor force to area businesses.

Please bring your families, friends and neighbors to learn more, share your opinions with the Steering Committee and City staff, and find out how you can get involved in proposed neighborhood improvement activities. Spanish and Hmong translation will be provided. Find out more at http://www.cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods/swnp/ .

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