Neighborhood Connections

A new pilot program from CivicLex that is providing support for neighborhood events and resources in Fayette County.

Block Party Grant / Neighborhood Newsletter Grant

Overview

In many neighborhoods today, it’s become less common for people to regularly connect with their neighbors. Busy lives, changing communities, and other barriers have made it harder to build those everyday relationships that help communities thrive.

At CivicLex, we believe strong civic health starts close to home with the connections we have to the people around us. That’s why we’re supporting neighbors who want to come together to create events, share resources, and build a stronger sense of community with two new mini grant pilot programs.

These pilots are small-scale experiments in neighborhood connection. Through block parties and hyper-local newsletters, we’re exploring what happens when neighbors are given simple tools and a little bit of support to come together. These efforts are meant to be flexible, community-led, and designed to reflect the unique character of each neighborhood.

We’re hoping to learn more about what helps build stronger relationships, spark local pride, and strengthen civic health from the ground up, and eventually, these pilots will help inform more permanent programs at CivicLex.

Block Party Grant

Want to host an outdoor event for your neighborhood?
The CivicLex Block Party Mini Grant can help make it happen! This grant supports outdoor neighborhood gatherings held on a public street or in a public park between September and December 2025.

We’ll be funding two block parties anywhere in Fayette County that follow LFUCG guidelines. Selected applicants will each receive $750 to organize and host their event anytime between September 8 and December 31, 2025. Your gathering can be a traditional block party with food and music or something seasonal — like a Halloween decoration party or neighborhood caroling. As long as it’s in a public space and open to the neighborhood, the details are up to you and your community.

Deadline for applications: August 26th, 2025

Questions? Email Megan Gulla at megan@civiclex.org

The details:

  • Anyone that lives in Fayette County. If you have an idea and are confident that you can make it happen, you should apply.

  • A block party location should be on a public street or at a public park that is visible, accessible, and can safely and comfortably accommodate a group of people and any activities they will be participating in.

  • Any time between September 8th, 2025 and December 31st, 2025.

  • Your neighbors! We hope these events strengthen connections in your communities, so think about getting the word out to people on your street and close by.

  • Definitely, and we hope that you do! It’s easier to organize a party with a group of people. Plus, you can get to know your neighbors better if you work with them on a project.

  • Accepted applicants will receive funding in two installments and should be prepared to submit a W-9. The first installment will be sent after acceptance and the second will be sent after a detailed project plan is approved by the CivicLex program lead.

  • We ask that selected applicants take photos and/or videos of their event to be shared with CivicLex.

  • CivicLex will be available to advise on event planning and navigating the LFUCG permitting process.

    • If your event will be on a public street: submit a separate block party application to LFUCG within two weeks of your acceptance notification. CivicLex can work with you to fill this out if you would like. You can access the application here.

    • If your event will be at a public park: submit a separate indoor or outdoor facility rental application to LFUCG within two weeks of your acceptance notification. CivicLex can work with you to fill this out if you would like. You can access the application here.

    • You will need to agree to an Indemnification and Hold Harmless Provision

Neighborhood Newsletter Grant

If you love connecting with others through writing, design, or digital media, the CivicLex Newsletter Mini Grant might be a perfect fit. This grant supports residents who want to create neighborhood newsletters that bring people together through shared stories, updates, and interests.

We’ll be funding three original newsletter projects in neighborhoods across Fayette County. Selected applicants will each receive $250 to produce and distribute a print or digital newsletter for their street or neighborhood between September 8 and December 31, 2025.

Deadline for applications: August 26th, 2025

Questions? Email Megan Gulla at megan@civiclex.org

The details:

  • Anyone that lives in Fayette County. If you have an idea and are confident that you can make it happen, you should apply.

  • For this project, your newsletter can be a print or digital publication. It could be created as a bulletin, an essay, a poem, or even a collage. The door is open for creativity!

  • Your newsletter should aim to communicate with and bring together a group of neighbors through a shared interest or theme. This could include neighborhood events and alerts, community interests, seasonal insights, historical information, and free services offered by neighbors for neighbors.

  • Your newsletter shouldn’t be a personal blog or information solely about yourself. It also shouldn’t include political endorsements, partisan content, gossip, complaints about neighbors, sales ads, unverified information, or rumors.

  • Here are a couple examples of community newsletters from outside Lexington that CivicLex loves!

  • No, funding for this program should go to applicants who want to create a neighborhood newsletter, but have not yet done so.

  • Your distribution area should include your immediate neighbors and those you can reasonably interact with on a regular basis. For a print publication, your range shouldn’t be more than the number of residences you can deliver to in an hour or so. If you’re planning a digital publication, you’ll need to talk with anyone you plan to send to and get their email addresses.

  • At least three times between September 8, 2025 - December 31, 2025. We will also request that successful applicants agree to allow CivicLex to republish content submitted as part of this project.

  • Of course, but it’s not mandatory. It might be easier to regularly publish if you have a team, but it’s also perfectly fine to work alone.

  • CivicLex can provide planning guidance, if requested, and editorial assistance.