Neighborhood Council Funding Available to Community

The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council provided funding for Tuesday's National Night Out in Echo Park and also sponsors a variety of other community actions: placing of new benches, installation of bike racks, and graffiti removal are just a few.

But community groups and individuals can also benefit from GEPENC's resources. Patch caught up with GEPENC President, Jose Sigala, who explained how funding works and ecouraged neighbors to apply.

Where to Start Funding Search

Sigala suggested that those interested in applying for GEPENC funds start by visiting the Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment's website, empowerla.org, to learn more about opportunities and how funding is allocated. The website also lists a breakdown of how each neighborhood council has spent their money each year.

Sigala explained that the Los Angeles' city charter requires the city to provide money to neighborhood councils from the city's general fund. 

"This year, the city council and mayor did a ten percent cut," Sigala said of city-wide neighborhood council funding. "There was talk we'd only get about $20,000."  In fact, GEPENC received $40,5000 this fiscal year down from $50,000 last year.

How Funds Are Spent

The money can be spent in three different categories to help councils function: administrative costs such as office rental and phone charges, outreach and public improvement.

Outreach can include everything from parades and events to providing funds to the library. Public improvment generally involves something tangible, such as supporting a community garden or project to clean-up public areas. Sigala pointed to the very successful monthly bulky item pick-ups and the recent clean-up of the overgrown patch by Riverside Drive and Allesandro Street as examples of community projects supported by such GEPENC funds. This year, GEPENC is funding Echo Park's first ever Mariachi Festival on September 17.

Sigala noted that neighborhood coucils must present a budget to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. Events and projects that are annual, such as the Echo Park holiday parade, as well as resources that go to public schools and libraries, are set aside out of that budget. Money is provided to the council through demand warrants - which must be board approved and can take up to eight months - neighborhood purposes grants, and an ATM purchase card. But the rest of the money is available for sourcing into the community through the proposal process.

People Have Great Ideas

"We like to get ideas from people, " Sigala said, explaining that the council has set aside the money for "community building efforts."  Non-profits in the community and residents can apply for assistance with such efforts. Setting up a community crime watch, developing a neighborhood garden, or even just a meeting with your neighbors can qualify for GEPENC funds.

To start the process, Sigala invites good ideas to be presented at GEPENC meetings, the dates of which are listed on their website. He suggested going over the information provided on empowerla.org and then pitching the idea to GEPENC.

Sigala explained that the proposed project must work its way through budget and finance committes, but that he and the council would "work with the applicant" and help with "putting together the paperwork."

"Call me, email me," Sigala encouraged. "I'll help you write the proposal."

For more information, stop by GEPENC's website. President Jose Sigala can be reached by email at jose_sigala@yahoo.com and by phone, 213-308-2826.