PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is now accepting applications for mini-grants as part of the Love Your Block program, a community-driven initiative that empowers residents to take action and enhance their neighborhoods. In its first year, Love Your Block will support the City's Westside Promise (WSP) initiative, a 10-year community investment plan aimed at addressing current and historic challenges facing West Long Beach through the alignment of existing City efforts, strategic partnerships and targeted investments. Mini-grants will fund resident-led projects in West Long Beach and drive meaningful change by addressing air quality and transportation efficiency for residents, especially youth and older adults, in the 90810 zip code. 

"The Love Your Block program provides vital funding to support residents engaging in impactful, community-led projects that address their most pressing needs," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "The first year of this program supports our Westside Promise, which will help improve the livability of West Long Beach and promote the overall wellbeing of the community. I encourage all residents to apply and contribute to driving this positive change in our community."

The Love Your Block program will provide mini-grants of up to$2,500, empowering community members to act and create lasting positive change in their neighborhoods. These mini-grants will support resident-led projects in West Long Beach that reduce exposure to poor indoor and outdoor air quality; promote clean air education, behavior and tools; enhance pedestrian, bicycle and rolling safety; and/or build community capacity to advocate for street and environmental improvements.

To be eligible, applicants must be a Long Beach resident 18 years of age or older, have proposed projects occur within the 90810-zip code, and have a passion for addressing issues impacting residents, especially in West Long Beach. While only individual Long Beach residents are eligible to apply, local nonprofits and businesses are encouraged to support projects through donations, volunteers and materials.

Eligible residents, especially those living in West Long Beach, interested in applying for a mini-grant can fill out an application online in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at lbcity.info/LYB-MiniGrantApp now through Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. Awarded projects will be announced by Thursday, Oct. 16, with project completion required by Dec. 31.

Between March and May 2025, over 30 participants, including Westside residents, community-based organizations and City staff, engaged in Civic Deliberation Workshops facilitated by the Office of Civic Innovation in the City’s Technology and Innovation Department. The workshops examined the community’s historical context and centered on learning about the community's lived experiences, identifying community priorities and framing challenges and opportunities through a collaborative, justice-centered lens.

Transportation and air quality emerged as dual priorities during these workshops due to their significant impact on daily life, public health and the quality of life for youth and older adults in the Westside. Clean air is essential for the healthy development of children's lungs and for preventing chronic health issues in older adults. Likewise, safe, accessible and dignified mobility allows youth to walk and bike to school and programs, while enabling older adults to connect with neighbors, services and social spaces. These conditions support community longevity, reduce social isolation and contribute to environmental justice. 

"The Love Your Block mini-grants will help give life to resident-led projects that will improve the quality of life and health outcomes of West Long Beach residents,” said Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga. “I am happy to witness how this program will foster connections, promote environmental justice and elevate the places we proudly call home."

In February 2025, Long Beach joined a nationwide cohort of cities implementing Love Your Block. Since its inception, the program has positively impacted nearly 50,000 residents nationwide, improving over 4,000 public spaces–creating almost 800 art displays, cleaning 102,000 square feet of graffiti, and removing 6.7 million pounds of trash in cities nationwide. A total of 50 cities across 33 states have received support through the program.

Additionally, a 2021 study by the Urban Institute found that cities participating in Love Your Block were able to strengthen social cohesion among residents, increase civic participation, and build stronger relationships with community members, leading to greater trust in local government.

For more information and to apply, visit the Office of Civic Innovation webpage. Learn more about the Westside Promise at longbeach.gov/wsp.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About Love Your Block
Originally launched in 2009 by Cities of Service, Love Your Block is a signature initiative of the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. The program strengthens civic engagement and provides direct support to residents tackling neighborhood challenges.

Past Love Your Block projects include home repairs for residents, public art and mural installations, park and playground enhancements, tree plantings and community gardens and clean-up and beautification efforts.

By fostering collaboration between residents and City leaders, the program helps build trust, enhance public spaces, and improve overall neighborhood well-being.