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Seattle Municipal Archives Finding Aids

Small Sparks Fund Records

 Series
Identifier: 5756-06

Scope and Contents note

Records relating to Neighborhood Matching Fund Small Sparks grants. The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) program, created in 1988, provides financial assistance for community-driven neighborhood development projects. Small Sparks projects were awarded up to $250, and each project team had to provide a matching portion of monetary donations, volunteer hours, or supplies. The purpose of these projects was to energize the community and reach out to people who were not yet involved in neighborhood organizations or projects. The projects were meant to be simple and informal, taking two months or less to complete. Projects included the creation of gardens, concerts in the parks, talent shows, potlucks, dances, community yard sales, preparation for earthquakes, neighborhood walks, and cleaning up trash in neighborhoods. Types of records include grant applications, agreements, progress reports, final reports, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and photos. Neighborhoods represented in each folder are listed in a note field.

Dates

  • Creation: 1999-2013

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Records are open to the public.

Historical Note

The Department of Neighborhoods was created in 1991 by consolidating staff from the Executive Department's Citizens Service Bureau and Office of Neighborhoods, the Community Service Centers of the Department of Human Resources, and the Neighborhood Assistance Division of the Department of Community Development. The Office of Urban Conservation, the City's historic preservation agency, was added in 1992. The following year, the department added a community development function by taking over projects in the Central Area, Southeast Seattle, and the Port of Seattle. In 1999, the Neighborhood Planning Office was abolished and its continuing functions were assumed by the Department of Neighborhoods. The Department's mission is to bring local government closer to the citizens by maintaining a responsive presence in Seattle neighborhoods, by responding to citizen concerns and complaints, and providing a communications link for neighborhoods on City issues that will have an impact on them. The department operates the Neighborhood Service Centers (Little City Halls), administers the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program, staffs the Landmarks Preservation Board, and manages the P-Patch program.

Full Extent

1.8 Cubic Feet (5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Records regarding Small Sparks grants from the Neighborhood Matching Fund.

Title
Guide to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Small Sparks Fund Records 1999-2005
Author
Finding aid prepared by Alyssa Enders and Natalie Edmonds
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
EAD Location
http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44592

Repository Details

Part of the Seattle Municipal Archives Repository

Contact:
PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle 98124-4728 USA US