Neighborhood support program

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The City’s Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) provides annual funding to Community Councils for neighborhood projects and activities. The NSP proposal process is normally open annually beginning in the month of February through June. 

Each approved NSP proposal includes activities / projects designed for successful outcomes that positively impact the neighborhood or community overall.

The 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:

• Neighborhood Leadership Activities
• Communications
• Neighborhood Improvement Activities
• Educational Activities
• Neighborhood Development & Services
• Problem-Solving Projects
• Other projects or activities improving the quality of life/serve public needs that are consistent with the NSP Guidelines.

Examples of successful NSP projects include:

• Community Events
• Membership drives
• Newsletters
• Beautification and clean-up activities
• Summer employment or cultural activities for neighborhood youth
• Networking and training workshops for community leaders

The Neighborhood Support Program is an annual process open to the City’s recognized Community Councils.

To be eligible: 

• NSP-funded community councils must operate in an open and democratic matter and must be in compliance with the City of Cincinnati Ordinance #220-1989
• All NSP matters must be discussed and voted on in meetings open to all residents of the neighborhood, regardless of membership status
• The Community Council must allow full membership and voting rights to any resident 18 years or older; however, non-residents cannot vote or hold office unless Community Council By-Laws or regulations stipulate that “at least once per year, any group of at least five residents may require a special vote at which only residents may vote to determine whether persons other than residents shall have or continue to have voting privileges or be eligible to hold office.”
• Community Councils may not bar from membership or otherwise discriminate against persons based on ethnicity, race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin, or type of housing.

We need your ideas and we need them now. What do you want to see our NSP funds put toward? We will be putting the ideas to a vote at our next public meeting - Tuesday, May 13th at 6 p.m.

Please email your thoughts to NSP Manager Tricia Fetters, tricia.fetters@chpl.org

Community Councils must adhere to the NSP guidelines and processes.

These conditions are linked here: NSP Guidelines (NSP Guidelines)