HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Neighborhood grant money worth up to $5,000 per project is available but according to Hillsborough County, many communities are either not applying or are unaware the funds exist. 

The mini-grant program was launched in 1998 to help neighborhoods invest and enhance their communities. 

A dog park at Lakewood Ridge Townhomes is just one example of the many projects funded. 

John Gunther and his wife have been living in the Brandon community for 17 years. 

“It’s right down the street here," said Gunther who helped bring the new amenity to his community. "We like dogs. Sometimes the dogs are better than the people," he laughed. 

After a few months, he says he's seeing the project's impact in more ways than one. 

Visiting the park is therapeutic for the retiree whose own dog passed away. 

"A lot of the people here before that didn't even speak to each other, but now the dog starts a conversation," said Gunther. 

Just 15 minutes away is the private Saint Charles Neigborhood where Sabrina Peacock is a resident. 

Her community has been awarded the grant multiple times over the years. 

"Always looking to how can we make this place better," said Peacock, president of the Neighborhood Association.

"Every year it’s a big undertaking to determine what capital improvement projects we'll be undertaking," she added. 

But she says residents are reaping the benefits. The grant allows them to work on smaller projects while prioritizing and budgeting for major ones. 

"The fountain was a capital improvement project," she said. "The mini-grant allowed us to add this concrete pad, benches and landscaping."

At the community center, the grant-funded shading for the kids pool. 

"This gave us a way to protect the littles from direct sun," she added. 

The community also has its own customized app. 

These are just a few examples of the variety of grant-funded projects that exist in Hillsbrough County. 

The folllowing are the categories in which communities are encouraged to submit ideas for the 2022 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program:

        •       Leadership Empowerment 
        •       Safety Opportunities and Education 
        •       Environmental Enhancements 
        •       Health and Wellness Engagement 
        •       Emergency Preparedness 
        •       Neighborhood and Community Innovation 

Stephanie Agliano, who oversees Hillsborough County's Customer Engagment & Support, told Spectrum Bay News 9 the county would like to see more applicants and fulfill the needs of the diverse communities that make up the county. 

"We want projects with a purpose," said Angliano. "What is something that will be long lasting? Tell your neighborhood story. What is your legacy? That is what we are working to accomplish with these neighborhood grants."

The application deadline is December 17, 2021.