The City of Seattle has launched an online portal that makes it easier to apply for grants for community projects. The city offers funding programs ranging from $250 to $1.5 million.

From the press release:

This user-friendly portal organizes the funding opportunities in six categories: youth; technology; community building and organizing; physical improvements; arts and culture; and the environment. Visitors can also search by the name of the city department and funding program(s), or can view all the programs side-by-side in an easy-to-read matrix format.

“We want to make it easy for people to improve their communities,” says Mayor McGinn.

The web portal includes an online calendar which lists funding deadlines, workshops, and events of funded projects. Its blog provides updates on the funding programs and shares stories about community projects. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has been charged with monitoring the portal and to grow and enhance it over time.

Various city departments manage the funding programs; and the criteria and funding amounts vary depending on the type of project, city priorities, the departments’ capacity, and available funding. Some of the funding programs require a community match of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services, or cash.

A project that recently received a Small and Simple Neighborhood Matching Fund award from the City of Seattle is seeking an artist(s) to design a mural for a wall near the southeast corner of Phinney Ridge that bridges the neighborhoods of Fremont and Wallingford.

The 46th Street Mural Project is looking for a design that will “bring a positive visual message to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists traveling under Highway 99 (Aurora Ave.) at N. 46th St.”

The wall is located on the north side of the underpass at N. 46th St. and Aurora Ave N.

Get more details on our sister site, Fremont Universe.

The city’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs’ Neighborhood & Community Arts program is accepting applications for community cultural events in 2010. The application deadline is Oct. 27.

Funded organizations will each receive $1,200 to support project expenses such as artist fees, marketing and promotional fees, an venue and equipment rentals.

The funding program helps Seattle’s neighborhood art councils and community-based groups produce festivals and events that enhance the visibility of neighborhoods, promote cultural participation, celebrate diversity and build community through arts and culture.

Neighborhood arts councils and community-based groups that have been in existence for at least one year may seek annual support for a recurring festival or event that has a significant arts and cultural component, is open to the public and takes place in Seattle. Applicants are not required to have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status.