Strong Neighborhoods

Neighborhood residents tree planting
Residents at Block Party next to Trailer
Roosevelt neighbors standing around newly planted tree
child on pavement next to a chalk sign that says party
Firefighters talking with residents and apparatus in the background
Adult and child sitting at a table at a block party

Join us at our Neighborhood Connections Road Trip Stops

Neighborhood Associations

A good way for neighbors to organize is through a Neighborhood Association. You can give a voice to your neighborhood, receive official public notices, and benefit from the many neighborhood programs.

Key Purposes and Activities:
  • Advocacy and Representation: Acting as a unified voice for residents regarding planning, zoning, and safety issues with city officials
  • Community Building: Organizing events like block parties, meetings, and newsletters to build social connections and a sense of belonging
  • Neighborhood Improvement: Promoting beautification projects, cleaning, and maintenance of public areas 
  • Information Sharing: Keeping residents informed about local issues and connecting them with city resources

Click here to view the City of Ames Neighborhood Associations Map(PDF, 241KB). Please note, not all of these associations are currently active.

For information on your Neighborhood Association contact person, or on starting a Neighborhood Association if you don't live within an existing one, please contact Engagement Coordinator, Casandra Eames at: 515.239.5219 or email her at: casandra.eames@cityofames.org

 

Neighborhood Connections

                                                                                      Neighborhood Connections logo

 

The City of Ames is launching the 2026 Neighborhood Connections initiative to foster community engagement through four key strategies:

 

                        Logo for Neighborhood-Connections-Collection.jpg

 

These initiatives aim to build stronger neighborhoods, increase civic trust, and enhance communication regarding city projects.

To learn about this initiative, you can find details in the Staff Report. If you would like to learn more information or your community group would like to be involved, please contact: casandra.eames@cityofames.org

 

Neighborhood Improvement Grant

Grant Update Notice

The Neighborhood Improvement Grant is currently being updated to better serve the Ames community.

The application cycle is temporarily paused while we refresh our program guidelines. We anticipate the new application and updated details will be ready and live in mid-September 2026. Please check back then to apply!

While we update our program, you can review our core goals below to help brainstorm your upcoming project. The purpose of this grant is to: 

  • Promote a greater sense of community through resident participation in a neighborhood project  

  • To strengthen a neighborhood's appearance with the addition of permanent physical improvements 

  • New Grant Opportunity (Coming Soon): We are adding a new funding option to support community connections through hands-on learning, social events, and public art installations. 

    Anticipated Grant Details:

    • Maximum award: Up to $500 per project which will require a 1:1 match where residents must provide a $1.00 of value for every $1.00 received from the City. 

    • Eligible expenses: food and non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment, facility and equipment rentals, insurance fees, materials (paint, plants, etc.), marketing, promotion, specialized labor (arborist, training, facilitator, etc.)
 

Questions?

If you have any questions, or want to discuss a project idea ahead of the mid-September launch, please contact Engagement Coordinator, Casandra Eames at: casandra.eames@cityofames.org

Block Parties

Hosting a block party is a powerful way to transform a collection of houses into a vibrant, supportive community and gives everyone an opportunity to connect and build relationships.

Click here to learn how to reserve the Street 'N' Greet Block Party Trailer. 

 

Safe Neighborhoods

The Ames Police Department has a dedicated Community Resource Officer to educate community members about general knowledge, safety, and provide community outreach. Click here to learn more about the Community Resource Officer

 

 

 

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