The City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement has allocated funds to SE Uplift for management of a new Graffiti Abatement Community Grant Program for FY 2010-2011.  Grant funds totaling $8486 were made available to neighborhood associations, businesses and community-based organizations for projects with an emphasis on graffiti prevention, graffiti abatement and/or addressing locations chronically tagged with graffiti. After thoughtful consideration by the Graffiti Abatement Community Grant Committee, seven community projects were funded:

1.    Montavilla Neighborhood Association, Montavilla Graffiti Cleanup Partnership 
Amount requested:  $2050. Funded $1500.
Funding will be used to support two key project activities.  The first activity will be quarterly neighborhood-wide graffiti cleanup events, which will focus on chronically tagged areas along 82nd Ave, Glisan St, Division St and Stark St.  The second activity will consist of graffiti cleanup outings every other Friday at pre-identified tagged locations. The crew for these cleanups will consist of two JOIN clients who are either homeless or recently housed.  Grant funding will help with the neighborhood association’s graffiti cleanup efforts, help to build new partnerships and promote community building and volunteerism.

2.    Our Happy Block Coalition, Our Happy Block Mural 
Amount requested:  $2500. Funded $2250.
Grant funding will be used to produce a mural on the wall of a chronically tagged building near SE 80th & Woodstock. In addition to supplies to create the mural, funds will also be used to purchase a graffiti-proof sealant and light fixtures to deter future tagging and make the mural more sustainable.  The mural is an integral component of the grassroots/ community-driven organization’s efforts to build community and make positive livability changes in the neighborhood.

3.    Two Rivers Aikikai, Murals at SE 30th & Belmont
Amount requested:  $2500. Funded $1000.
Funds will support the creation of a new mural and for maintenance, protective coating and new lighting for existing murals at the corner of SE 30th and Belmont.  The new mural will embody the goals of harmony and non-confrontation, while the lighting and protective coating will deter graffiti vandalism at this chronically tagged intersection.

4.    Brooklyn Action Corps, Brooklyn Pedestrian Bridge Mural, Landscaping Facelift and Graffiti Cleanup Kit Project
Amount requested $2500. Funded $2046.
Funding will be used to improve the 9th Avenue pedestrian/ bike overpass at SE Powell Boulevard, a key north-south arterial for pedestrians and bicyclists.  The project consists of three components, which include the installation of a mural treated with a clear coat to prevent tagging, landscaping improvements and a graffiti response and removal kit to be used by the recently revived neighborhood watch committee.

5.    Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association, Tango Berretin Mural
Amount requested:  $2500. Funded $1000.
Grant funding will support the completion and protection of a mural being painted on the exterior of Tango Berretin, a chronically tagged location on Foster Road.  The project has secured partial funding through a grant by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, so additional grant funds will cover expenses for properly finishing the mural with quality UV and graffiti protective materials, graffiti removal products for the building owner to remove graffiti in a timely manner, and support for a community celebration to unveil the completed mural.

6.    Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association, Mt. Tabor Graffiti Patrol
Amount requested:  $345. Funded $345.
Funding will be used to purchase graffiti removal supplies and gloves and safety vests to increase visibility for biannual or quarterly volunteer cleanups.  Neighborhood volunteers will partner within Friends of Mt. Tabor Park and the Atkinson Elementary PTA to remove graffiti from chronic locations.  The grant funds will help to improve the livability of the neighborhood and support the development of community partnerships.

7.    Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood Association, Creston-Kenilworth Graffiti Cleanup
Amount requested: $500. Funded $345.
Funding will be used to purchase graffiti removal supplies for quarterly volunteer cleanups.  Neighborhood volunteers will focus efforts on chronically tagged locations along SE Gladstone, SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Holgate Blvd and Powell Blvd.  The grant funds will help to improve the livability of the neighborhood and support community building activities.